2012 Alsace

No introduction required for one of the icons of Alsace – this seduces with a hauntingly subtle chalk and ginger on the nose, notes which give way to more obvious apple and lemon, a hint at a mineral quality through wet stone and slate. When one refers to a wine as being alive, this is what they’re talking about – the 2012 Clos Sainte Hune has incredible verve, but approach with caution: it’s still a bit juvenile. Wonderful saline grip and beautiful freshness in a brilliantly balanced wine which promises much. Delicate flavours of ginger, jasmine, peach and a steely lime finish – the components of this wine will evolve wonderfully – hold fire for a few years and drink until 2030+.
Ben Grosvenor, Private Account Manager

Offering more density and purity of fruit than the Classic cuvee. This displays flourishes of lime cordial, a touch of pithy citrus fruit but most excitingly, exotic fruit throughout the well defined and taut palate which is complemented by not quite searing but taut, refreshing acidity. This is really exemplary Riesling, you could set your watch by it. Drinking from 2016 to 2025+.
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager

For most professionals, let alone consumers, Alsace is complicated, alongside the plethora of producers, some bad, some good, it is often hard to decipher the quality of the vineyard let alone the producer all at the same time as trying to understand the dryness or sweetness of a given wine. With the customer in mind, Hugel have redesigned their range to reflect the different levels of quality in very simple and International terms.

Hugel first and foremost is an advocate of the dry style of Alsace wine. Hugel wines are tight, structured, mineral and dry – unless they’re sweet.
The “Classic” range is a mixed of bought in and estate grapes designed for early everyday consumption which sets the tone for what’s to come.

The 2012 Riesling, Clos Windsbuhl has a superb mineral intensity and perfect purity of flavours, typical of the Windsbuhl vineyard. Despite not being a Grand cru, this is a very grand wine with layer upon layer of detail, regal poise and a harmonious balance of refreshing fruit flavours. If you like citrus fruit, lively acidity, white grapefruit, blood orange and quince then you must try this wine. ‘Proper’ Riesling.
Laura Atkinson-Godwin, Private Account Manager

Writings and praise for the Windsbuhl vineyard are numerous and its history goes back to 1324 when the Domaine was known as Erlach. When the Count of Ferrette died in 1324, Erlach became the property of the House of Austria. In 1668 the hillside vineyard was renamed Windsbuhl. In 1760 the planting of vines in the plain was subject to a quota by royal decree. Many vines were pulled up and the Windsbuhl vineyard was planted with noble grape varieties. In those days, the wines commanded a high price in the old wine market, in fact the archives show this used to cost three times the price of wines from other communes.

Clos Windsbuhl faces south to south-east and its proximity to the Vosges Mountains protects the Windsbuhl from northern winds. Its situation and higher altitude makes for a late ripening terroir. With its average to steep slope (between 15 - 40%), the small Windsbuhl hill is at a high altitude for Alsace, around 350m above sea level. The vines grow in shelly limestone (muschelkalk) rich in clay and chalky rock. It is well worth noting that Windsbuhl lies on a soil structure quite different from the rest of the commune which contributes to what is one of the most interesting expressions of minerality in Alsace.