The warning, “Careful! The Zwölberich Orange by Nature Gewürztraminer Auslese noble sweet is not a typical white wine, but a so-called Orange Wine” first made me aware of the wine I tasted. The additional note “fermented on the mash” did the rest: my curiosity about what a sweet wine of an aromatic variety is like after this mash fermentation was aroused.
All the more so since I do not fundamentally refuse to enjoy Orange Wine. On the contrary, I have already enjoyed some very appealing specimens in this category. A not inconsiderable proportion of these wines was made in clay vessels such as amphorae or qvevris.
How exactly the 2018 Gewürztraminer Auslese noble sweet Orange By Nature was produced by the Weingut im Zwölberich was not specified – not even on the winery’s website. However, it could be seen that the winery based in Langenlonsheim an der Nahe worked around 33 hectares of vineyards according to the biodynamic principles of Demeter, planted 12 different grape varieties and rated the 2020 Gewürztraminer noble sweet Orange By Nature as strong orange.
2018 Gewürztraminer Auslese noble sweet Orange By Nature, Weingut im Zwölberich (Tasted wines)
Pale, light straw yellow in the glass, stone fruits in the nose, backed by vegetable-like, spicy notes. On the palate, citrus, grape, some orange and subtle floral notes, especially rose and violet, as well as spicy, vegetable-like notes, fine tannins, nice, very balanced interplay of sweetness and acidity, juicy, full-bodied, good, long finish. Very good wine.
Conclusion: Gewürztraminer reinterpreted – without the often lush aromas, but definitely typical of the variety and with positive elements of the mash fermentation.