Zind-Humbrecht | Alsace | Gewürztraminer Hengst Grand Cru | 2022 | 750ml | bio

Description

Product description for Zind-Humbrecht Gewürztraminer Hengst Grand Cru 2022 (bio)

Christoph Raffelt: On the palate, the Grand Cru Hengst is incredibly dense, long, and deep, yet perfectly balanced between the generous fruit and spice on the one hand, and the freshness and minerality that the wine carries within itself on the other. Plenty of yellow stone fruit is present here, as are ginger, cardamom, curry, licorice, and bitter orange. The wine has a silky texture, an almost oily consistency, and a zesty finish. It is a wine for decades to come (Olivier Humbrecht).

Wine Information

The Hengst was classified as a Grand Cru in November 1982. It lies on a majestic, steep, southeast-facing slope in the village of Wintzenheim, very close to Colmar. The red limestone soil from the Oligocene consists of calcareous sandstone with calcareous pebbles and is rich in iron. The topsoil is actually quite thin, but the presence of clay (marl) gives this vineyard excellent drought resistance. Even today, Gewürztraminer is the most widely planted grape variety in Hengst. The combination of early ripening climate and high lime and iron content contributes to high phenolic ripeness, which is crucial for this grape variety. This also explains why this vineyard has become famous for its red wine! The red Oligocene limestone allows for perfect tannin ripening and maintains high acidity even in hot years like 2022. A small hailstorm at the end of June led to a drop in yields. We were upset at the time because the vines looked good. Today, however, we believe the rain did the vineyard good, and we regret that the same storm didn’t hit other areas. These very old vines (we believe one of the two vineyards is almost 100 years old) are planted with excellent grape material that is less aromatic than modern clones and much more complex. The vines also have a deep root system, which brings the full character of the vineyard into the wine. This stallion fermented slowly and retained a medium sweetness.

Colour

Dense and bright golden yellow.

Nose

The brilliant aroma reveals ethereal hints of lemon balm, elderberry pulp, a touch of cassis, sweet grapefruit, kumquat, and pickled mango. These are joined by cinnamon, white chocolate, and sweet brioche, warm and crispy fresh from the oven, while the coolness and minerality are exceptionally present. Even on the nose, there is an incredible depth that promises an explosion on the palate.

Palate

As a self-confessed Gewürztraminer fan, I’m once again in seventh heaven. What a magical, wonderful, beguiling 2022 Gewürztraminer stallion. Its salty and mineral structure, its fruit and dry impression are extremely present, the invigorating acidity and the fine tannin play flirtatiously on the tongue. What a miracle that Pierre Emile and Olivier Humbrecht have conjured up in this bottle. A wine for eternity and a congenial food accompaniment with a never-ending finish. Its grippy, salty, and extremely invigorating structure will tolerate many more years of aging. A price-value ratio that is hard to beat. Be sure to decant it now and enjoy it from large Burgundy glasses. A few days of opening will allow it to improve even further.

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Keywords: Zind-Humbrecht Gewürztraminer Hengst Grand Cru 2022 bio Alsace France

Wine Advocate

Score: 96

The 2022 Hengst Wintzenheim Gewurztraminer is very fine, deep, complex and saline on the flinty/peppery, herbal, saline and orange/lemon-scented nose. Rich but elegant and saline on the palate, with charcuterie and dried jam aromas, this is a rich but also elegant and savory Gewürztraminer with kumquat and orange peel notes on the orange-bitter finish. This is more on the dry than sweet side. 13.8% alcohol plus 23.7 grams per liter of residual sugar. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024.
Stephan Reinhardt

Vinous

Score: 96

The 2022 Gewurztraminer Hengst Grand Cru was a bad boy in the cellar because it stopped and started fermenting. June hail had hacked half of the crop. The nose, however, is super clean, presenting Mirabelle jelly with overtones of peach and Damask rose, delicate and tender. The palate is even more nuanced, with immense freshness and beautifully delineated orange zest. It’s mouth-watering, tingling, vibrant and intense on the back palate but restrained on the entry. Bold citrus delivers gorgeous balance. The freshness and zesty, pithy character make it unbelievable that this should hold 24 g/L of sugar. (Off-Dry)
— Anne Krebiehl MW
Drinking window: 2026 – 2050
Review date: Apr 2024

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