2007 Elk Run Gewurztraminer Cold Friday Vineyard
The Elk Run Gewurztraminer has gotten a lot of run around Maryland, winning the 2008 Governor’s Cup for best off-dry wine. The off-dry designation is a bit strange. It may be just a touch sweet, but nothing that will turn off dry-wine devotees and it certainly isn’t up there with peach wine or blush.
The first sniff gave me the same sort of I-don’t-know that I get in a lot of Maryland wines. I don’t quite have down what it is (Old Bay?) but MD wines, both red and white, but it’s a little sulfuric, sharp… not particularly unpleasant but just distinct. The mystery aroma blew off after a few minutes. Past that, there was apple and beach, mostly round, full aromas. The wine had a Juicy Fruit, honeyed taste initially, very layered. Good acidity. The whole thing was almost a little wild. A nice, dry, light caramel finish followed. The wine changed for the better over several hours, giving out more fruit and maturing into complexity. On open, the wine was more of a New World style and after some time it developed a hint of minerality and Old World Characteristics, like something Alsacian.
The Elk Run Gewurztraminer is a gem of wine, standing up to a Gewurztraminer from Sonoma or Anderson Valley. At $23, it isn’t a great value considering that comparable wines can be picked up for less money from Washington, Alsace, Germany, and even Austria. For a local play though, it is hard to beat.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Great post! Do you know any online retailers that carry the Elk Run Gewurztraminer? It’s challenging to find the wines online, unless it’s from the big four.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Don’t know of anyone online who sells it. I’m sure the winery would ship you some… if they were allowed by law, of course.