The light-bodied 1993 Pinot Gris Carte d'Or is elegant, tasty, and fresh, with loads of fruit. It offers considerable flexibility with an assortment of food. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.While Sparr's wines are rarely capable of hitting the peaks reached by the likes of Alsace's Domaine Weinbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Albert Mann, or Bernard Schoffit, they are consistently reliable as well as fairly priced. All of the offerings reviewed in this issue are attractive, up-front, delicious, dry whites for drinking over the next 2-10 years, depending on the cuvee. Several other Sparr 1992s that are priced in the $12.50-14.00 range (too high for this article) are noteworthy wines. Consumers should be on the lookout for the 1992 Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes (86), 1992 Riesling Reserve (87; wonderful mineral/orange-like flavors in a dry, medium-bodied format), 1992 Pinot Gris Reserve (87; spicy, oily, buttery, and chewy), and the 1992 Gewurztraminer Reserve (88; textbook rose petal/grapefruit flavors in a full-bodied, dry format). Importer: Hand Picked Selections, Dan Kravitz, Warrenton, VA.

Consumers looking for medium to full-bodied, ripe, concentrated, dry white wines with considerable character should check out Sparr's 1992 Pinot Gris-Carte d'Or, 1992 Gewurztraminer Carte d'Or, and 1992 Riesling Carte d'Or. The 1992 Pinot Gris-Carte d'Or reveals a big, spicy, buttery, opulent bouquet, and rich, medium-bodied, heady flavors with low acid and plenty of alcohol. It is a powerhouse wine, as well as a marvelous bargain. It will last for 4-5 years. While Sparr's wines are rarely capable of hitting the peaks reached by the likes of Alsace's Domaine Weinbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Albert Mann, or Bernard Schoffit, they are consistently reliable as well as fairly priced. All of the offerings reviewed in this issue are attractive, up-front, delicious, dry whites for drinking over the next 2-10 years, depending on the cuvee. Several other Sparr 1992s that are priced in the $12.50-14.00 range (too high for this article) are noteworthy wines. Consumers should be on the lookout for the 1992 Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes (86), 1992 Riesling Reserve (87; wonderful mineral/orange-like flavors in a dry, medium-bodied format), 1992 Pinot Gris Reserve (87; spicy, oily, buttery, and chewy), and the 1992 Gewurztraminer Reserve (88; textbook rose petal/grapefruit flavors in a full-bodied, dry format). Importer: Hand Picked Selections, Dan Kravitz, Warrenton, VA.

Pierre Sparr produces some of the lowest-priced wines in Alsace. While 1991 is not the vintage 1989 and 1990 were, Sparr's lower level wines all display good clean fruit, fresh acidity, and enough body and perfume to win over consumers. The 1991 Pinot Gris-Carte d'Or exhibits the waxy, honeyed Pinot Gris style, an admirable ripe, medium-bodied taste, and a fine finish. Importer: Dan Kravitz, Hand Picked Selections, Warrenton, VA.