Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Hengst Grand Cru – 2021

Bottling date: 1/2023; Alcohol: 12.7°; Residual sweetness: 3.2 g/l; Total Acidity 6.15 g/l H2SO4 (9.1 g/l Tartaric acid), pH: 2.9; Yields: 11 hl/ha; Optimum drinking period: 2026-2046+; Planted 2016; Terroir: Marl-Oligocene limestone. East facing, medium to steep slope. Indice 1/EU Dry wine.

“About 10 years ago, we decided to pull the Gewurztraminer planted on the eastern facing part of the Hengst Grand Cru (facing East). These grapes were never used in the Grand vin. The clonal selections used back then never produced a wine matching the complexity of the old vines. Eventually, after 30 vintages and big trunk diseases problems, we gave up! Nowadays, as the climate evolved, the Riesling was an obvious choice in the red limestone of the Hengst (Pinot Noir would have been another for sure). We planted massal selections from our old riesling vines from Brand in 2016. The 2021 vintage is the first, and impressive, release of this wine. We vinified this vineyard apart the previous vintages and were able to see the character and development of the wines, always showing great acidity and precision!

1/2023: bright yellow colour. Intense nose of mineral, citrus and some white fruits aromas (lime, bergamot, pears). The nose is profound and delicate, still discrete and begging to open up more with time. The palate shows all the power and intensity usually found on the Hengst wines. The structure of the palate is huge, precise, sharp and nicely focused. The acidity is so well integrated thanks to a big mineral salivation and a high dry extract concentration. Long elegant finish. A wine to keep! We are very proud of this first release from this Grand Cru!” Olivier Humbrecht

“So much power and energy for vines that are just six years old. Mind-blowing chalky minerality and citrusy freshness on the tightly-focused palate. So much drive at the bold and dramatic finish. The first vintage of this wine. From biodynamically grown grapes.” 96pts Stuart Pigott for James Suckling