Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal – 2023

Olivier Humbrecht MW’s notes

Bottling date 1/2025; Alcohol: 12.6° alc; Residual sweetness: <0.5 g/l; Total Acidity: 3.7 g/l H2SO4 (5.65 g/l Tartaric acid), pH: 3.25; Yields: 51 hl/ha; Optimum drinking period: 2026-2041+; Vineyard planted in 1983; Terroir: Grey marls and gypsum (Keuper). South facing, very steep slope. Indice 1/EU Dry wine.

Clos Jebsal is the only place in Turckheim named after its geology. Jebsal means “gypsum”. This small Clos of 1.29 ha, created by Léonard Humbrecht in the early 1980s, rests on an early Trias limestone substrate (Keuper) rich in gypsum. The soil is deep and there is a large presence of clay (blue in colour) between the gypsum layers. Facing south, on a steep slope, it is an early and sunny terroir, but whose cold and deep soil has the capacity to slow down ripening and allows the grapes to maintain a beautiful balance. Since 2020, this terroir has been harvested with healthy grapes. The advancement of the harvest date makes the development of noble rot very difficult. The 2023 vintage, like the previous ones, was therefore picked healthy to obtain, after a vigorous fermentation, a great dry wine.

Olivier Humbrecht MW tasting note

1/2025: Pale golden yellow colour. The nose reveals a beautiful aromatic display of white fruits (pear, peach, but also quince) characteristic of a good physiological maturity that is found in many wines of this vintage. On the palate, the wine is enveloping, intense, with an average power but offers a surprising persistence, and above all an unusual acidity and freshness for this grape variety. The finish is long, gripping, elegant, without heaviness. It is a very dry wine with a moderate alcoholic power, but with disconcerting ease.

“Dark, creamy and citrusy, this slowly charms you with its cool personality. Lie back and let it work, because the finesse of the wine is extraordinary. And if you’re really smart you will wait before opening the bottle, because wines from gypsum-marl soil like that of the Clos Jebsal are some of the slowest developing. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.” 97/100pts James Suckling