2017 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"A well balanced and fruity wine with apple and melon flavours. A relatively long and slightly dry finish. Really great value . I will definitely be buying again. "
Mr Bernard Feeney (27-Sep-2019)
"This completely surpassed my expectations of what a sub £10 wine from Alsace can offer. TWS notes are spot-on. Lovely pure fruit flavours, nothing coarse whatsoever, good freshness and balance and with a real synergy between the grapes in the blend, this was knocked back far too easily. A definite re-order for me."
Mr Mark Barton (11-Jul-2019)
"Perfectly acceptable Alsace blend. Pear, apple and a touch of grapefruit. Nice long finish.
However my overall sense is that their is better value elsewhere in the WS range for this price. "
Mr Tom Rodger (10-Jul-2019)
"I have bought this wine for many years. It's one of those "old faithful" wines. But it is inching up in price, particularly compared to products from South Africa and Portugal so it's not quite the default that it once was. It's still great and I'm happy to share it with friends but casual "just open a bottle" now takes me elsewhere. The two press reviews are fair - it's still a lovely wine."
Mr James D Tassell (05-Jul-2019)
2017 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Spectator (27th Jun 2019)
"Wine of the week:
Made expressly for The Wine Society by the fabled Hugel family – producers of
fine wine since 1639 – this is the perfect introduction to the vinous delights
of Alsace. A blend (a rarity in the region) of several noble varieties but
chiefly sylvaner, it’s aromatic, creamy and complex with a long, dry, deeply
satisfying finish. In short, it’s pretty much the perfect summer aperitif. - Jonathan Ray"
independent.co.uk (23rd Feb 2019)
"Made for the Society
by the house of Hugel, one of the big names in Alsace, from a blend of the
local, so-called “noble” grapes – gewürztraminer, pinot gris, muscat, sylvaner
and riesling – it is a refreshing and food-friendly combination of apple, pear and
lychee flavours and a fab introduction to this often overlooked area of France. - Terry Kirby"
Liverpool Echo (2nd Feb 2019)
"Made by the Hugel
family of winemakers which is Alsace class in a glass. Winemaker Marc Hugel
creates a blend each vintage from riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris,
muscat, and sylvaner, known as “the noble varieties”. There are notes of
freshly cut green apples, lychee, pear, and a hint of white peach. It is fresh
and rewarding. - Jane Clare"
2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"This is our " house white" and has been for many years"
Mr John I Smith (07-Dec-2018)
"A delightful Alsatian wine that reflects the region. A floral bouquet that introduces a flavoursome wine, with a full range of the area’s grape varieties. Whilst discerning members will move on to the individual types, this does offer a good introduction with some balance and fullness."
Mr Stephen Myles (04-Aug-2018)
"A case of ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ "
Mr Clarke Gibbons (02-Aug-2018)
"Lighter and more low key than than the 2015. Very pleasant, reliable dry white. Just a bit lacking in character. Recent price hike means it is getting expensive compared to more exciting competition elsewhere on the list e.g. Portuguese Vino Verde."
Raymond A Fulton (21-Oct-2017)
2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"My favourite vintage of this wine to date. Lovely."
Mr Jonathan Rippon (12-Aug-2017)
"Wow. Delightful. Pear drops and honey. Rich. Complex. Long finish."
Mr Peter Nelson (22-Jul-2017)
Mr Stephen Thew (01-Jun-2017)
"Lovely fruity wine. An ideal introduction to the wines of Alsace and great value at the price point."
Mr Nick Foster (18-Mar-2017)
"Absolutely delicious for the price. Extremely versatile with or food or good on its own."
Dr Deborah Hylands (15-Feb-2017)
"This is a truly wonderful wine. A dry Alsace that has hints of fruit and flintiness. Good to accompany fish of course, but also the more robust choucroute's of the Alsace region. One of the best Wine Society special choices."
Professor Robert Moon (21-Sep-2016)
Mr Iain Harkess (17-Aug-2016)
"This vintage is a really good value Alsace blend & I'll be buying regularly for the remainder of the summer
Definitely much lighter than its predecessors and better for it in my opinion"
Mr Christopher Woodhead (11-Aug-2016)
2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
Mr Nigel M Johnson (23-Aug-2016)
Prof Anthony Pinching (12-Aug-2016)
"I have always liked this - full, spicy, fruity but dry - a versatile food match, especially when you can't think what quite goes well. I recently opened a bottle which was quite different - softer, dryer, less intense, but very enjoyable nonetheless. I looked at the label again and saw it was a bottle of 2011 I'd overlooked - so it keeps well too."
Mr Philip Kirkley (04-Jun-2016)
2013 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"This wine is fresh with some citrus flavours. A blend of Alsace style wines, although it is on the light side, perhaps dominated by Sylvaner. It has a lovely colour, great clarity in the glass and good texture. Great as an aperitif or with food and probably best to match with lighter flavours. Excellent value and would buy again."
Dr Andrew Carnell (18-Jan-2015)
"This is a very good introduction to Alsace; reliable, as almost all Society wines are and excellent value for money which I don't think can be beaten. In fact, I'm almost certain that this blend is the same as Hugel's Gentil - only difference being the price - you'll save c.£2 a bottle thanks to The Society's label. Buy with confidence."
Mr Richard Lindsay (05-Jan-2014)
"Clean and refreshing, cannot be faulted. Sadly a bit too light on the palate for my taste; I prefer a more full-bodied Riesling style."
Ms Mia Lorenz (03-Jan-2014)
"I tried this wine after an article in the newsletter told how exceptional the latest blend was. I agree and I'm now working my way through a second case. I think it is good with hot food and bread and cheese suppers."
Malcolm S R Douglas Esq (19-Oct-2013)
"Wow. This really is an excellent wine. Had it with seeded bread (Lidl), Black Bomber cheddar and 3 dipping vinegars, strawberry, fig and a mix of garlic oil and lemon vinegar (fantastic). The whole mix was absolutely delicious and it's just as well I bought 2 bottles. Top notch!"
Mr David O'Brien (20-Aug-2013)
"Got to say I agree with Dr Collier below. Too light and delicate for me, I feel it lacks complexity and finish. There are cheaper wines (the Zarcillo Riesling for example) which deliver more for your money."
Mr Matthew Huntingford (12-May-2013)
"I have been buying this wine for over 20 years and it has been consistent for taste and cost. Great for everyday drinking and goes with most types of food. If only I could find the equivalent in red!"
Mr Christopher M Whaley (25-Mar-2013)
"Since first posting, have been working through case. Overall impression: slightly disappointing. Bottle variation, but the 2011 version is not now doing very well. Some bottles have been hard, all have lost bloom without compensating enrichment."
Mr John L Moles (22-Feb-2013)
"Don't really understand this wine: must try harder! Certainly, bags of interest, especially at reduced price."
Mr John L Moles (14-Dec-2012)
"I have been buying this wine for years for everyday drinking, and parties. It is a well made good quality wine that represents good value for money.and a great wine to give people who have never had any Alsace. It is hard to find a better quality wine at this price."
(28-Oct-2012)
"After two bottles that were off-they had no finish- I finally tasted the excellence of this wine. It went wonderfully well with lobster. Fruity and generally quite delightful with a good finish (at last!)."
Dr Yun Lee Too (01-Oct-2012)
"A light white which offers easy drinking. I detected slight honeyed notes and an overall roundness.
Whilst not a classic it offers an interesting introduction to the wines of Alsace which can then be explored more fully."
Mr Stephen Myles (08-Sep-2012)
"I find this too light without sufficient sweetness or acidity to be in the slightest bit enjoyable. Having been a fan of this blend (but not having bought it for some time) I bought several recently which I now regret.
It's too light for food and not interesting enough to make an aperitif. This doesn't represent good value compared to what else is available through the WS. A great pity, it used to be excellent.
"
Dr Phillip Collier (19-Aug-2012)
"Lovely. Light and fresh, slightly sweet, wonderful nose, went very well with a variety of foods. Would recommend as a great bottle of easy drinking white wine."
Mr Philip Merrin (28-Jul-2012)
"Truly stunning value for money. The buying team should be congratulated at being able to offer such a great wine at this price."
Mr James Kilmister (19-Jul-2012)
"Had this for the first time last night with a Chinese Take Away. Absolutely fantastic. Went well with the food and we drank it from the shelf but gave it 10 minutes in a vacuvin freezer sleeve. Previously I've steered clear of Alsace wines but I'm now encouraged to try a few more. Excellent value for money and well worth a try if you are looking for something new."
Mr Alexander Watts (28-Mar-2012)
"A hint of honey on the nose, otherwise beautiful spring flowers. Palate shows some citrus, is well balanced and has great acid. This is such good value for money."
Mr William Davies (13-Mar-2012)
"This is a lovely light and fresh, yet aromatic white that has complexity and length. Highly recommended. Superb wine to convince your friends who only drink "dry white" about the delights of a deliciously honeyed Alsace."
Dr Jenni Viitanen (04-Jan-2012)
"Utterly transformed after an hour out of the fridge at room temp. This was lovely with a chicken curry showing a very floral nose and clean, zippy, citrus flavours on the palate. This is a relatively simple but nicely structured Alsace wine which makes for a good introduction to the style."
Mr William Davies (28-Dec-2011)
"An excellent all-rounder that drinks as well with food as on its own. Aromatic and with decent body and length and well worth the price and makes an excellent regular white in the cellar. The 2005 vintage was superb and the 2008 is pretty good (perhaps a tad less impressive than 2005 if I recall correctly). If you like this I do recommend that you try the Rolly-Gassmann Terroirs des Chateaux Forts at 10.95. A definite step up in aroma, flavour and of course price!"
Mr Richard Bailey (15-Sep-2011)
"My wife and I would agree with everyone's comments (apart from the petrol bit). It's absolutely stunning, incredible value and goes with a whole range of different food. Our favourite everyday white wine by a long way."
Mr Stuart Pemble (26-Aug-2011)
"I couldn't agree more with the previous reviews, even if I've never noticed the petrol bouquet! It is an exceptional wine for its price. It is ever so slightly rich: certainly very flavoursome but with nothing overbearing: it is perfectly balanced. I once matched it with a home-made duck & cherry terrine, a gratin dauphinoise, a salade niçoise, and a pumpkin velouté, to very gratifying effect. Pretty versatile, what!"
Baker (14-Jun-2011)
"This excellent wine with its lovely bright colour and complex flavour went down very well when drunk with canapes before sitting down to Christmas lunch. Once again we have found a winner from The Society range and it will now become a regular part of our order."
Dr John Good (29-Dec-2010)
"Delicious and versatile white, with notes of honey and citrus fruit. In terms of sheer value, I have tasted few better"
Mr Matthew Robison (04-Oct-2010)
2013 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Field (20th Mar 2015)
"Wonderfully drinkable and spot on with asparagus. - Jonathan Ray"
Chichester Observer (19th Mar 2015)
"Dry, fragrant and fruity, fine on its own as an
aperitif, or with fish or shellfish. - Peter Homer"
Liverpool Echo (14th Feb 2015)
"A favourite wine of mine, and it seemed right it
should grace the table for a Chinese feast. It’s a blend of sylvaner, which
gives the wine its structure, and riesling, gewurztraminer and pinot gris, with
a touch of muscat. All wonderful Chinese matches in their own right; blended
together a shoo-in. This was brilliant with the simple pak choi which was
stirfried in moments with garlic then graced with chilli. The wine is full and
fruity, not too complex, but with a tastebud ping pong. - Jane Clare"
simonwoods.com (22nd Aug 2014)
"You can almost
dissect this wine and pick out the nuances of the different grape varieties.
It’s the rich peachy nuttiness of Pinot Gris along with some of the exotic rose
petal of Gewürztraminer that you can smell, but then when you taste it
smokiness of Sylvaner kicks in, while the citrussy freshness of Riesling cleans
up the finish. Nice wine, not as blowsy as some Alsace blends can be. - Simon Woods"
Chichester Observer (10th Jul 2014)
"The dry, fulsome
fruity flavours… would go brilliantly with fish dishes, and many others, as
well as being enjoyable on their own. - Peter Homer"
Manchester Evening News (1st Jul 2014)
"A complex and flavoursome
blend of five grape varieties which is tangy with a sweet hue and some
minerality. The palate includes almond nuttiness and floral notes. Enjoy on its
own or with a picnic. "
Portsmouth News (7th Jun 2014)
"It has a bouquet of
spiced pears, honey and blossom and the palate is medium-bodied with a dry
fruity finish - a perfect summer white wine. - Alistair Gibson"
York Press (31st May 2014)
"A sassy Alsace blend
produced by Hugel under The Wine Society’s own label. A blend of mainly
sylvaner but with riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris and muscat in the mix.
Fresh, clean and dry, it suggests lemons and tropical fruit, with white
flowers, a lick of honey and mineral notes. - Mike Tipping"
Decanter (May 2013)
"This wine - super value for money - has sylvaner at its core, with riesling and pinot gris among others forming the rest of the blend. Aromatic, but not overly so, the palate is balanced with spice and floral notes backed up with ripe white fruit showing just a hint of sweetness.-Mark O'Halloran"
Chichester Observer (7th Mar 2013)
"Made by the Hugel family, it's dry, full and fruity, at its best while young and sprightly, and ideal for the pork-related dishes for which this part of the country is famous. Most Alsace wines are made from a single grape, but this one is a blend of several different varieties - a base of sylvaner, plus riesling, gewurztraminer and pinot gris. - Peter Homer"