Wine Advisor
Zind Humbrecht, Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
The 2015 Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl is in fact a Vendange Tardive that was picked at 16.66% potential alcohol, since it stopped fermentation at 12.5% and 70.7 grams of residual sugar. However, Oliver did did not announce that he would produce a VT in the Windsbuhl, so he isn't allowed to sell this wine as a such. Even without the Vendange Tardive predicate, the 2015 is a great and age-worthy Gewurz that is rich, sweet and concentrated but enormously well structured. It is made for long-term bottle aging of 10, 20 or 30 years. Tasted in February 2017.
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
The 2015 Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl is in fact a Vendange Tardive that was picked at 16.66% potential alcohol, since it stopped fermentation at 12.5% and 70.7 grams of residual sugar. However, Oliver did did not announce that he would produce a VT in the Windsbuhl, so he isn't allowed to sell this wine as a such. Even without the Vendange Tardive predicate, the 2015 is a great and age-worthy Gewurz that is rich, sweet and concentrated but enormously well structured. It is made for long-term bottle aging of 10, 20 or 30 years. Tasted in February 2017.
Reviewed by: Ian D'Agata
Dark bright yellow. Very herbal but discreet; hay and dried herb nuances dominate the dried apple and pear nectar aromas and flavors. Very suave and sweet (72 g/L residual sugar) in the mouth, offering enticing notes of bitter orange and spices. Finishes medium-long, tannic and chewy and comes across as a very tough wine, currently in need of much cellaring.
About the Producer
Founded in 1959, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is one of the most prestigious wineries in Alsace. The Humbrecht family has been growing grapes in the region since 1620. Since the 1980s, the estate has been run by their son, Olivier Humbrecht. Olivier is a world-renowned winemaker and the first Frenchman to be awarded the title of "Master of Wine". In France, it is common that the vineyards owned by Château Humbrecht are not located in the same place. The vineyards of Château Humbrechts are located in 5 different villages and cover a total area of 40 hectares. A wide range of grape varieties are planted, mainly Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. The average age of the vines is 30 years, with some vines as old as 70 years. The winery produces 13,000 to 16,000 cases of wine per year, with yields of 3,000 to 4,000 liters per hectare. Old vines, the best vineyards, low yields, late harvesting, a biologically based growing system and vinification in old, temperature-controlled vats are the hallmarks of the winery's wines. The harvest at Château Humbrechts generally lasts more than 3 months, as the grapes are picked only when a parcel of vineyards has reached their approved full ripeness. The grapes are pressed in whole bunches and they tend to use heavy vats with large capacity. All materials are moved by gravity and aged with premium vats, with little to no use of sulfur dioxide. The fermentation process is completely natural - indigenous yeasts are used, no enzymes and such additives as oxygen, nitrogen, clarifiers, vitamins, etc. are added. The fermentation process at Château Humbrechts is very slow, ranging from 3 months to 1 year, even longer for very sweet wines, and 12 to 18 months for the drier ones. Generally speaking, Château Humbrechts produces mostly sweet wines (depending on the vintage), but in years when natural conditions allow, it also produces less sweet wines with an alcohol content of 15% to 16%. The wines of Château Humbrechts, however, are made with the utmost care and reflect the best local winemaking techniques.
