Zind-Humbrecht | Alsace | Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl | 2017 | 750ml | bio

Description

Product description for Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl 2017 (bio)

Wine Information

Vintage The 2017 vintage will go down in the history of this winery. For Olivier Humbrecht, it is one of the three best vintages since the winery was founded in 1959. However, frost and hail limited the harvest to an average of less than 20 hl/ha. After an early bud break, two cold spells with sub-zero temperatures on April 21 and 22 exposed even those more sheltered areas to frost. An unusually icy east wind froze vines in vineyards like the Herrenweg de Turckheim, which had never froze in the 60 years that Olivier’s father witnessed. A hailstorm in the Brand vineyard fortunately had no major consequences. Midsummer was hot, August milder, and the harvest began on August 29 with Pinot Gris Roche Roulée, followed by terroirs such as Rotenberg, Heimbourg, Goldert, and others. A light rain on September 2 accelerated ripening. The Rieslings were harvested starting on September 11, and the harvest was completed with Rangen, Hengst, and Clos Jebsal on September 26. Only Clos Jebsal showed minor signs of botrytis. Vineyard This vineyard is the highest in the village of Hunawihr, and from the top of the Windbuhl hill, you can see all the surrounding villages such as Ribeauvillé, Zellenberg, Riquewihr, and Beblenheim. The shell limestone and limestone of the vineyard are also found in other neighboring crus in Hunawihr and Ribeauvillé. The poor harvest in 2017 was more likely due to a somewhat chaotic and late flowering, caused by a brief cold spell, than to frost damage. What was perceived as a problem at the time turned out to be a benefit during the harvest. The grapes harvested were healthy, ripe ones with an excellent sugar-acid balance. Fermentation Fermentation was very slow, but even and consistent. Like many other wines of the same grape variety in 2017, the Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl was aged in barrels on the full lees for 18 months. The wine has 7.7 g/l of residual sugar, 3.8 g of acidity, and a pH of 3.3. The yield was 23 hl/ha.

Colour

Bright golden yellow

Nose

Very typical of this terroir – you can also detect it in the Pinot Gris Roche Calcaire – is the smoky note that prevails in the Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl when it is young. In addition to the smoky note, you can detect a clear minerality, wet stone and apple must, as well as grapefruit and pear combined with a touch of honey and wax. It still seems somewhat closed, but is already very attractive.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is full and juicy, but above all very lively with bright, radiant fruit from stone fruit and citrus fruits. The stone fruit – apple, pear, quince – delivers a combination of crisp pulp, skin, and a touch of must, which here almost feels like a natural wine, especially since there is still a subtle sweetness from the yeast. Beyond that, however, the Clos Windsbuhl possesses enormous tension, minerality, and lively acidity, which carries the rock wine to an intense, piquant, and long finish.

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Keywords: Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl 2017 bio Alsace France

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