Zind-Humbrecht | Alsace | Riesling Heimbourg | 2019 | 750ml | bio

Beschreibung

Product description for Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Heimbourg 2019 (bio)

Heimbourg is a small, single vineyard of approximately 9 hectares, located on a southwest-facing slope, overlooking Turckheim and the Munster Valley. The soil is very thin and lies almost directly on the Oligocene parent rock, characterized by its high limestone and iron content, which gives it its red colour. The Riesling was planted in the mid-1990s, before Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Unlike its direct neighbor, Clos Jebsal, the grapes remain healthy due to the influence of valley winds and the poorer, rocky soil. However, the sun-drenched exposure can greatly accelerate ripening, and like most vineyards in Turckheim, the harvest must be carried out with precision to avoid overripeness and excessive residual sweetness. The 2018 vintage demonstrates perfect ripeness combined with very good acidity.

Wine Information

Olivier Humbrecht: The Riesling is planted on the lower part of the small single vineyard site Heimbourg. It is actually the steepest part. The uppermost soil is a siliceous limestone marl, but the roots quickly reach the Oligocene bedrock, which contains a high proportion of limestone, making it difficult for the vines. The proximity of the bedrock significantly reduces the vigour of the vines, which explains the lower yields in this vineyard. This is arguably one of the earliest-ripening vineyard sites in Alsace, but both the cool winds in the valley and the cooler soil give the wines tremendous freshness.

Vineyard Information

A drier climate in the summer also makes it easier to control the development of noble rot, so the wines become drier and drier from year to year. Fermentation was actually relatively easy for this wine; the wild yeasts left no residual sugar in this vintage.

Colour

Brilliant golden yellow.

Nose

The 2019 Riesling Heimbourg needs aeration to reveal itself and appears powerful and distinctive. After sufficient oxygen contact, oranges, candied lemon peel, fresh figs, anise, angelica, and elderflower emerge from the glass, accompanied by subtle flint notes and wood smoke. With some maturation, experience has shown that it will reveal earthy notes and hints of truffle.

Palate

A relaxed, aristocratic and at the same time incredibly charming drop unfolds on the palate, with delicate fruit sweetness and a powerful, piquant structure. Its acidity is particularly pronounced in 2019, lending it a lively freshness; its fine tannins make it an impressive monument, characterized by a saline finish and fantastic length! Those impatient to open it now are advised to decant it at least a day in advance and enjoy it not too cold from large Burgundy glasses.

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Keywords: Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Heimbourg 2019 bio Alsace France

Wine Advocate

Score: 92

From 25-year-old vines rooting in a south/southeast-facing plot on Oligocene limestone, the 26 hectoliters per hectare-yielding 2019 Heimbourg Turckheim Riesling opens with an intense yet also lean and elegant, aromatic bouquet with buttery shortbread biscuit, candied orange and lemon, but with more aeration, also white stone fruit aromas intertwined with spicy tannin and terroir aromas. It’s quite pure and indeed lean, if not a little austere. Elegant and dense on the palate, this is in fact a pure, linear and very saline, elegantly fruity as well as savory Riesling with an austere, grippy finish. 12.8% alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in November 2024.
Stephan Reinhardt

Producer website: http://www.zindhumbrecht.fr/