2010 Tokay Pinot Gris Reserve

The Trimbach 2010 Pinot Gris Reserve leads with a mouthwatering and intriguing nose of urchin roe as well as saline, alkaline sea breeze suggestions that adumbrate the decidedly mineral character exhibited on a firm but expansive palate. Suggestions of peach and pear as well as an intimation of creaminess likely to emerge with time in bottle bring more familiar Pinot Gris elements into play and heighten the striking mineral and animal elements that persist with memorable complexity already at this youthful stage. This is in the U.S. marketplace now, even though the Trimbachs had considered releasing it only after the corresponding 2011. But make sure to hold at least some of it through 2022 to appreciate just what a sensational value we have here. Fruit or lots that would more usually have gone into a Reserve Personnelle bottling was incorporated here, because, suggests Jean Trimbach, there was simply too little in aggregate. (If so, I would have bottled only a Reserve Personnelle.) Don’t fail to take advantage of his decision to keep the commercial pipeline filled with this flagship cuvee in its most amazing rendition ever! ”When it came to our own vineyards, we got only 50-55 hectoliters per hectare in 2011,” notes Pierre Trimbach of a generally abundant Alsace vintage. “We started picking already around September 10th,” he continues, “thanks to a hot, dry August and September. There was no rain until October 19, just after we finished picking.” While the Trimbachs express understandable delight with their iconic Rieslings from 2010, they bottled no Pinot Gris Reserve Personnelle and only a single wine from Gewurztraminer. “The quantity was so small, that we said ‘one bottling and that’s it,” relates Jean Trimbach. I urge wine lovers to take advantage of those bottling decisions! (What little 2010 V.T. was picked also ended up being blended out.) The Trimbachs’ Riesling line-up has recently grown by several bottlings, including one from the share of Gaisberg that they recently rented long-term from the local convent. From nearly three-decade- old vines in the highest reaches of this Kaysersberg grand cru there will be, beginning in 2012, a Trimbach Riesling Schlossberg. Both of these wines have prompted the family to break with past practice of not referencing any grand cru vineyards on its labels. Importer: Palm Bay International, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 362-9642