ZIND-HUMBRECHT
Riesling Roche Calcaire
2020
- Organic
- Biodynamic
Product code
840474
Format
12 x 750ml
Listing type
Open
Status
Available
Type of product
Still wine
Country
France
Regulated designation
Appellation origine controlée (AOC)
Region
Alsace
Appellation
Alsace
Varietal(s)
Riesling
Colour
White
Sugar
Dry
Closure type
Cork
Producer's website
About this winery
Olivier Humbrecht is one of the world's most renowned winegrowers. He is a Master of Wine and has been described by Robert Parker as the greatest white winemaker on earth. Yet he is very soft spoken, humble, and self-deprecating, which makes him perfectly suited to his assumed role as a global ambassador of wine. He is a champion of terroir, biodynamic farming principles, and non-interventionist winemaking, whose family have been winegrowers in Alsace for 12 generations (since 1620). He is...
See the ZIND-HUMBRECHT detail page for more information on this brand
Production notes
The Humbrecht family birthplace is in the village of Gueberschwihr, where this wine comes from. Originating from many little vineyards dispersed around the village, they all have a limestone base as common factor. Limestone is often associated with marl or richer elements that make such vineyard much more drought resistant. This is a clear advantage in hot and dry vintages like 2022: the vines grow easily and are capable to retain acidity. Here, the soils are also quite rich. Calcaire often means tighter, leaner, higher acidity wines, but also Riesling wines that have a serious ageing potential. These soils also have a better metabolism and that can be seen on the 2022 vintage. A very warm year, but yet this wine has an acidity and pH often only found in colder vintages. Long fermentation, full lees contact until bottling, completely dry wine.
Tasting notes
Pale yellow colour. Discreet nose, opens gently towards aromas of citrus fruits and lemon. Decanting well before serving is imperative if this wine is opened in its youth. The tension palpable on the nose is found on the palate, with an ample, sappy attack, marked by a fine acidity. This wine displays superb maturity while remaining precise. The finish shows a beautiful ripe acidity presence which enhances the wine serious texture of a great dry wine.
Press reviews
- 91 points -
Stephan Reinhardt, March 2023 (Vintage 2020)From vineyards around Gueberschwihr and a small portion of young vines from the Hengst, the 2020 Riesling Roche Calcaire offers a clear, fresh and stony, lemony bouquet of crushed limestones and even flint stones. Full-bodied, pure and tensioned on the palate, this is a limestone-driven, silky-textured, elegant and refreshing Riesling with fine tannins and a finish that is pretty intense, finely bitter and quite long. This is an excellent wine for its price range.
See detailed press review