Wine Advisor
Zind Humbrecht, Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
From 66-year-old vines on the south-facing granite soils of the steep and low-yielding cru (34 hectoliters per hectare), the yellow-golden 2016 Alsace Grand Cru Brand Riesling is clear, fresh and pure on the deep, ripe and mineral nose. On the palate, this is an intense, lush and elegant Riesling with a firm, mineral structure, fine acidity and a very long, salty finish with lots of power, grip and mineral expression. This is a dense and concentrated Brand that is far too young to be enjoyed today, but its aging potential should be enormous (as always), particularly in 2016 due to its very tight and mineral structure. "In 2016, the grapes were healthy, ripened early (an exception in that vintage), and the Brand fermented slowly, but the yeasts went to the end of their task," says Olivier Humbrecht, who finds his 2016 Brand pretty delicate compared to the often rather richer style of this steep grand cru. Tasted June 2018.
Reviewed by: Ian D'Agata
Bright straw-yellow. Very pure, clean, fresh aromas and flavors of yellow peach, lime, botanical herbs, sweet spices and a touch of orange jam. Then rich and dense, showing real concentration and depth to the lingering, repeating citrus and spice nuances. Finishes with an enticing multilayered quality, not to mention outstanding length. A fantastic wine. In 2016 Humbrecht did not use any grapes from his younger vines to make this wine, because he felt they had suffered some water stress that led to difficult fermentations and ultimately a different-tasting wine.
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.
