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Domaine Zind Humbrecht,
Ready, but will improve,
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.
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.
Domaine Zind Humbrecht,
Ready, but will improve,
Very mineral – the scent of wet river stones. Fabulously austere, it is easy to see through the iodine and tight nose how classic this wine will be. In the mouth it is delicate with no excess weight, but everything on the palate shows vibrancy and energy.
Laura Atkinson-Godwin, Private Account Manager
Laura Atkinson-Godwin, Private Account Manager
Trimbach,
Ready, but will improve,
Remarkable value can be found in Trimbach's Vielles Vignes bottling, this is textbook dry Riesling. The nose offers intense citric fruit with hints of riper white stone fruit, very clean and fresh. Impressively textured on the palate, there is more flesh and concentration and flesh on show here than I expected. Lime fruit and mineral hints, beautifully balanced with saline notes. Deliciously dry on the finish, inviting you in for more.
Famously controversial for opting out of the Grand Cru classification back in 1975 on account of the overly generous yields & low sugar levels (low quality) required, in the past five years the negociant has added 15 hectares of prime Grand Cru sites, notably in Osterberg, Geisberg, & Schlossberg, bringing their total to 45ha. So the family are clearly not closing the door on the possibility of releasing single Grand Cru vineyard wines, albeit in tiny quantities. However they lament the fact that France’s supermarkets continue to buy up 75% of the region’s production, selling Grand Cru wines at around €7/bottle on the shelf.
Meanwhile their brands of (Riesling) Cuvee Frederic Emile, (Pinot Gris) Reserve Personnelle & (Gewurztraminer) Cuvee des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre remain central to the range, made from both own fruit & bought in fruit; they remain a clear step up in terroir finesse from the fruitier ‘Reserve’ lines. Clos Ste. Hune is 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.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager
Famously controversial for opting out of the Grand Cru classification back in 1975 on account of the overly generous yields & low sugar levels (low quality) required, in the past five years the negociant has added 15 hectares of prime Grand Cru sites, notably in Osterberg, Geisberg, & Schlossberg, bringing their total to 45ha. So the family are clearly not closing the door on the possibility of releasing single Grand Cru vineyard wines, albeit in tiny quantities. However they lament the fact that France’s supermarkets continue to buy up 75% of the region’s production, selling Grand Cru wines at around €7/bottle on the shelf.
Meanwhile their brands of (Riesling) Cuvee Frederic Emile, (Pinot Gris) Reserve Personnelle & (Gewurztraminer) Cuvee des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre remain central to the range, made from both own fruit & bought in fruit; they remain a clear step up in terroir finesse from the fruitier ‘Reserve’ lines. Clos Ste. Hune is 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.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager
Showing 1-6 out of 6 items
Ben Grosvenor, Private Account Manager