Zind-Humbrecht - Gewurztraminer Roche Calcaire, 2014
Practically an institution in Alsace, the Humbrecht family trace their origins back to The Thirty Years War of 1620. In 1959 they created Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and are currently based in Turckheim, a small village just 7 km west of Colmar.
The domain’s winemaker today is Olivier Humbrecht MW, who was the first Frenchman to qualify as a Master of Wine. Olivier is a champion of biodynamic winemaking and a sort of superstar among winemakers. He firmly believes that biodynamic (preserving vine and soil life) can ensure the proper expression of terroir.
2014 was not a good year for Zind-Humbrecht. Some of their vineyards were badly affected by fruit flies. As a result, in some places they lost as much as 50% of their crop. Some of the Grand Cru vineyards (Windsbuhl, Hengst and Goldert) were therefore declassified into this cuvee. “Roche Calcaire” is technically an Alsace AC, but much closer to Grand Cru in quality level.
The wine is bright gold yellow in the glass. To the nose, it’s intense in flavours, elegant and feminine. Perfumed note of apricots, lychee, honey, raisins and ripe cantaloupe melon are chased by a subtle floral presence of rose petals. Mandarin skin, candied citrus and marmalade complete the scented aromatic profile.
On the palate, the wine is medium-sweet. Thanks to an unusual high acidity for this grape (Gewurztraminer is notoriously low in acidity), this wine exhibits great tension and precision. The palate mirrors the perfumed nose, with stone fruit and a live zestiness more evident in the mid-palate. Honey and baking spices layers wrap the intense fruitiness. Overall, the wine is perfumed but rather restrained. It is precise and racy with an elegant long finish.