Protected by the Vosges Mountains, Alsace has some truly exciting and elegant wines to offer the world. Historically, this region has literally been in a tug of war between Germany and France, in terms of who has had dibs on the land. In terms of wine, it does share similarities to that of neighbouring Germany, but can also hold quite a bit of diversity at the same time, considering the grand cru grapes and the like.
When I hear or taste Alsace, I immediately think of three of some of my favourite producers: Domaine Ostertag, Hugel, and of course Josmeyer. You would be hard pressed to find a more eccentric, dynamic and….colourful domaine in the whole of Alsace.
Situated in Wintzenheim, and certified organic and biodynamic, Isabelle and Céline Meyer have been running the Josmeyer family domain since 1994 and 2004 respectively. Their domain extends to about 28 hectares with plantings of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Gewurtztraminer, to name a few, and has always been cultivated with respect for nature.
Their wines are expressive, bright and romantic. They offer a range of blends, grand
crus, and even wines that are more specifically terroir driven. They present wines that are beautiful inside and out, as their labels are quite distinct and oozing with such artistic flare. ( All the labels of their wines are created by artists in Alsace.) 
“In creating these labels I brought one of my dreams to fruition: To transform the wine into an image and thereby illustrate to the consumer the style and character of what he would find in the bottle.. I often compare the work of the winemaker to that of an artist. The former works with a living and changing medium, then imprisoned in a bottle you have to open and taste to fully appreciate.” - Jean Meyer
Riesling is a grape variety that can be dressed as sweet, semi sweet or bone dry. I will let you guess which is my favourite, as my wine of the week is Josmeyer Riesling Le Kottabe 2013. Delicate, round, playful, and bursting with flavour, this riesling is delivers a huge bang for its buck. Kottabe gets its French name from the word "Cottabos", an ancient Greek drinking game played during the symposia whereby participants tossed the sediment of their wine into a basin (amorous liaisons often followed the culmination of the game). - Domaine Josmeyer
The grapes were hand picked and whole-bunch pressed very slowly and gently in pneumatic presses over 5-8 hours to give a clean must and a beneficial amount of skin contact. Transferred to stainless steel, the juice then began a natural fermentation with its own natural yeast for one month. The fermentation was initially temperature controlled but eventually allowed to proceed at its own pace to allow the wine to develop its own character and complexity. (Photo: Domaine Josmeyer)
Pale lemon in colour, this wine has pretty aromas of lemon lime, petrol and honey. Medium bodied with a zesty, vibrant acidity and delicate flavours of pear and lemon. It has a kind of chalky, tasty feel with mouth-watering, salty minerality. All elements are in modest, truly balanced proportions. A delightful medium finish. Drink now or within the next four to five years.
Wine: Josmeyer Kottabe Riesling 2013
Grape: Riesling
Alcohol: 11.5%
SAQ Code: 12713032
Price: $29.55
Agent: Symbiose
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