Kubler’s 2009 Gewurztraminer Weingarten displays ripe pear with cinnamon and mint to which its overt sweetness is reasonably appropriate. Soft, expansive, and caressing it still finishes with an admirable and in the context of its grape and vintage surprising buoyancy and primary juiciness. I cannot claim, though, that it represents any qualitative advance over its ostensibly lesser “K” sibling-bottling, nor to have an idea in what context I would drink it other than solo, andplan on doing that over the next 4-5 years. Philippe Kubler is among the few Alsace growers I met to have elected – quite reasonably in my opinion – to market some of his 2009s ahead of (and others concurrent with) the corresponding 2008s. He notes that “the styles are dramatically different, and the 2008s deserve a year or longer in the bottle whereas the 2009s are ready to drink.” That said, I suspect that save for the V.T.s among them, Kubler’s 2008s aren’t really built for long aging.Importers include Chateau St. Martin, Bellevue, WA; tel. (425) 462 1717 and Wine Symphony, Inc., New York, NY; tel. (212) 226-8283

While the sweetness in Kubler’s rather abruptly-finishing 2008 Gewurztraminer K was less well-integrated – albeit analytically slightly lower – than that of the corresponding 2009, and ill-suited to its bitter herbal aspects, the unabashed sweetness of his 2008 Gewurztraminer Weingarten supports classic litchi, quince, musk, and rose petal, and somehow achieves counterpoint rather than conflict with its alkaline, saline, and seaweed-like elements. The finish offers some real intrigue and dynamic.This could be worth following for the better part of a decade. Philippe Kubler is among the few Alsace growers I met to have elected – quite reasonably in my opinion – to market some of his 2009s ahead of (and others concurrent with) the corresponding 2008s. He notes that “the styles are dramatically different, and the 2008s deserve a year or longer in the bottle whereas the 2009s are ready to drink.” That said, I suspect that save for the V.T.s among them, Kubler’s 2008s aren’t really built for long aging.Importers include Chateau St. Martin, Bellevue, WA; tel. (425) 462 1717 and Wine Symphony, Inc., New York, NY; tel. (212) 226-8283

The Kubler 2007 Gewurztraminer Weingarten represents a vineyard-designated bottling that was not essayed in 2006. Rose petal, bacon fat, marjoram, and mint in the nose lead to a lovely display of creaminess and inner-mouth florality, with a finish that is restrained in sweetness (less evident in fact than in the corresponding “K” bottling), in part thanks to a surprising sense of brightness and primary juiciness. This should remain delightful for at least 6-8 years. Young Philippe Kubler returned to his family’s estate in 2004 after diverse and impressive international experience and is conscientiously working to pull this domaine into the vanguard of its region. It should be noted that the initial “K” in several Kubler bottlings is merely a way of designating his basic range of bottlings.Importers include Chateau St. Martin, Bellevue, WA; tel. (425) 462 1717 and Wine Symphony, Inc., New York, NY; tel. (212) 226-8283