2005 Alsace
The quality of this vintage progessively emerged as the harvest unfolded giving way to low yields, perfectly sound grapes and nice & ripe acidities.
A normal winter of dry yet freezing days in January soon rolled into a mild and rainy April, favourable for the start of the vines vegetative cycle.
From mid June to the end of July high temperatures promoted a fine flowering period and eased the growth of the vines.
August was more variable, pleasant at the beginning followed by a cooler second half. These cooler temperatures maintained the fresh acidity of the grapes in time for a successful harvest.
Later humid conditions brought on botrytis.
Picking began in Alsace on Thursday 22 September.
Rainfall during the night of 3rd to 4th October caused some concern, but enabled picking from the best vineyards under optimum conditions.
Overall, the dry winter, low precipitation in spring and summer and a good September month yielded a very small harvest. On this point, the vintage can be compared with 2003.
Prices:
Case price (H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl)
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 3cs
(Simon Staples, Berrys' Fine Wine Director)
The driver behind Humbrecht's Clos Windsbuhl wines is their acidity and the freshness it gives them, which makes this late harvest Pinot Gris a natural partner for all decadent chocolate permutations that even the most creative of minds (in the William Curley vein) might be able to concoct. Notes of honey and apricot combined with the aforementioned acidic backbone and it's hard to imagine life beyond dessert.
Nicholas Stewart - Wine Buying Team
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Consequently the wine's disarmingly succulent, toast, honey, barley sugar and peach flavours are perfectly balanced by an extra gear of freshness and mouth-watering acidity. This is decadent and delicate all in one.