The Artistry of Charles Baur
It is truly a shame that Alsace gets overlooked when discussing the best white wine values in the world. Alsace may not beat their chest and scream from the mountain tops that they are the epicenter of white wine values, but there truly are some great wines that are priced incredibly well. Charles Baur is easily one of my favorite producers just based on the breadth of great white wines he produces across the aromatic spectrum. With a string of strong vintages, Charles Baur has stacked one great wine value after another. Regardless of vintage we have the right wine at the right price for you to explore the wonders of Alsace.
The 2020 Charles Baur Sylvaner Alsace $13.99 is an often overlooked varietal that I always find incredibly intriguing. With great acidity, notes of lychee, spice, and citrus sing in this refreshingly delicious white that offers a stylistic departure from the usual white wines you may have been drinking.
More mainstream is the 2021 Charles Baur Pinot Blanc Alsace $14.99, which has great citrus notes and hints of orchard fruits nicely framed by zippy acidity and mineral accents. As we venture more into the exotic spice realm, we have the 2020 Charles Baur Muscat Alsace $17.99 VN90. Orange blossom, citrus notes, and elderflowers burst from the glass of this succulent offering, which has a viscous mouthfeel and long, enticing finish.
As the prices of Gewürztraminer have risen, the 2019 Charles Baur "Fronenberg" Gewürztraminer Alsace $19.99 JS93 WE91 is as amazing a value as ever. At under $20, this is a screaming deal for a Gewürztraminer that comes out of the gate guns blazing with intense peach and orchard fruit flavors, wonderful acidity, and a palate that unfurls to reveal peach and spice accents with a layered and complex finish. This is a Gewürztraminer that you need to own.
The last of our still wines from Charles Baur is the unbeatable deal of the year, the 2017 Charles Baur Brand Riesling Grand Cru Alsace $24.99 WE95 JS92 VN91, is outstanding with hints of reduction and tertiary notes, almond and petrol flavors and racy acidity with a palate that explodes with complexity, revealing a Riesling that is a fraction of the cost of similarly stationed Rieslings. This is a wine to buy and enjoy the wonders that Alsace can deliver.
An extremely underrated aspect of Alsatian wines are the sparkling crémants. They are delicious and an affordable alternative to Champagne. Charles Baur makes several different stunning sparklers, and we carry their two finest in the Charles Baur Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé $17.99 WE90, which displays red apples and cinnamon spice with hints of biscuit. This outstanding sparkler is the perfect affordable rosé.
If you’re on the lookout for a high-quality sparkling wine for under $20 that delivers a richly textured experience, the Charles Baur "Emotion" Cremant d'Alsace Brut $19.99 JS92 WE92 VN91 is a stunningly good sparkling wine that unfolds on the palate to reveal rich brioche notes, creamy apple fruit, and an ample body that delivers complexity and depth. This is a great sparkling wine that way over-delivers considering its humble price-point. If you have not discovered the wonderful values awaiting you in Alsace you need to take a deep dive via the wines of Charles Baur.