2007 Alsace

Smoke, flint and spices on the nose of Gewürztraminer Hengst give way to a powerful richness and viscosity that are typical of the grape. Layers of peaches, lychees, licorice, black tea, lily flowers, sweet spices are found in its youthful, undeveloped personality.

A firm and chalky, voluminous wine, the 2007 Gewurztraminer Rangen is intense and lenghthy on the palate.

In a different league to the Riesling Reserve, whilst sharing Trimbach’s penchant for austere dry Riesling. Sourced predominantly from their lime and sandstone holdings in Osterberg and Geisberg, the sunny lemon 2007 vintage has combined to give this ‘CFE’ a beautifully fine nose, and fabulously taut nose of lemon talc.

As Jean Trimbach observed, its transparent pebbliness reminds one of Chablis, a region not far off to the west. Great poise, packed with lemon pith detail while being achingly dry. A Calvinist’s Riesling if ever there was one! Drinking 2013 – 2027.
Ben Upjohn, Fine Wine Sales Manager

The Trimbach family is one of France’s greatest winemaking dynasties, having made wine in Alsace for almost four centuries (since 1626) based in the picturesque town of Ribeauvillé. If Domaine Zind-Humbrecht produces wines of extravagant power at one end of the spectrum of excellence within Alsace wine making, then Trimbach definitely stands at the other extreme – “Restraint” is their watchword.

The Trimbach style is summed-up perfectly by Hubert Trimbach: “Concentrated not heavy; fruity, not sweet; bracing rather than fat; polite rather than voluptuous. Trimbach wines are reserved, steely, elegant, even aristocratic; never obvious or flashy. We are Protestants. Our wines have the Protestant style – vigour, firmness, a beautiful acidity, lovely freshness. Purity and cleanness, that’s Trimbach.” For those weary of the residual sugar found in so many of the contemporary Alsace wines, Trimbach’s are a refuge.

As the family moves into its 13th generation, with Pierre’s daughter Anne now working in the business (and Jean’s son Julian studying vine science at Dijon), Maison Trimbach remains a byword for fine dry Alsace Riesling. Famously controversial for opting out of the Grand Cru classification back in 1975, on acco Their brands of (Riesling) Cuvee Frederic Emile, (Pinot Gris) Reserve Personelle and (Gewurztraminer) Cuvee des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre remain central to the range, made from both their own and bought in fruit; they remain a clear step up in quality and finesse from the fruitier ‘Reserve’ lines. Clos Ste.Hune is the estate’s finest Riesling, from a 1.67ha ‘clos’ within Grand Cru Rosacker; the provenance readily communicated but still absent from the label. So as winemaker Pierre Trimbach signs off his 34th vintage in charge, this is still very much an estate to watch. These wines are considered the benchmark for quality, consistency and style. The essence of Trimbach, with the obvious exception of the luscious Vendage Tardive and SGN wines, is the traditional dry style in which the wines are made.