Pinot Gris Heimbourg
2017
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...
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The respect for the vine and soil is very important for Olivier and is team of vineyard workers. All viticultural work is carried out by hand with the help of some horses to plough the vineyards with minimum impact of the soil. All vineyards have been certified organic and biodynamic since 2002. Low impact farming is practiced, organic composts are used and yields are restricted.
All wines are fermented in traditional oak vats using native yeasts. No additives are used, and chaptalization is never carried out. The wines are left on their lees and ferment at there own pace, the wines are not fined. Very little sulfites are added and the wines are bottled after at least 6 months on the lees.
This wine is beautifully perfumed with a layer of spicy notes. On the palate, it is silky and med – full bodied. This wine is also dry and refreshing acidity.
This great pinot gris has stunning concentration and an amazing interplay of chalky, smoky and ripe yellow fruits character. Only medium-bodied, but with so much mineral power. Everything pulling together drives this along at a racy clip. From biodynamically grown grapes
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Wonderful and compelling aromas of dried mango, pineapple and honey. Honeysuckle too. Full body and a very, very persistent finish with ripe fruit and tangy acidity. A phenomenal wine. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.
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This is the most radical, new dry pinot gris of Alsace I’ve encountered, thanks to its almost icy coolness and crispness, in spite of the honeycomb character. Bold, chalky minerality on the compact palate that’s remarkably sleek for this grape. Then comes the super-salty finish that almost knocks you off your chair. From vines planted in 1991. From biodynamically grown grapes.
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Muscular, classic, slick.
This wine is muscular, it has the posture of a red wine.
There is a classic Alsatian Pinot Gris earthy/mushroomy character to this version, notes which are woven with golden fruits and quince paste. Slick in texture, it has notable weight and a very long tangy and citrusy finish to keep it bright and not brooding.
Love the walnut and spice character to this with dried-lemon and smoke undertones. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with lots of gorgeous fruit and a long, tangy finish. So much here. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.
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Very delicate and subtle with a wonderfully ripe citrus and peach character. Still fairly dry for Alsace pinot gris and an excellent food wine as a result. Drink or hold. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.
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Humbrecht knows pinot gris. At Heimbourg he says the vineyard has the capacity to produce multiple styles of richness and sweetness. In favourable years, the grapes can be harvested later but as the vineyard ages botrytis is less and less a sure thing making a drier style pinot gris more possible. This wine jumps from the glass. So lively and fresh but fraught with complexity and length. Quite green fruits, mingle with an austere, elegant dry finish with a touch of sea salt. Very food friendly. Impressive to say the least.
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A creamy and spicy pinot gris with white peaches and apples. Some peach skin, too. Medium to full body. Hemmed-in style. Dry and delicious at the finish with some edgy acidity.
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Dry and focused, this full-bodied white has a core of smoky mineral and ground spice notes, firm acidity, and tightly knit flavors of guava, kumquat, crystallized honey and yellow plum. The lip-smacking finish goes on and on.
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Notes of ripe yellow peach, pomegranate, grated ginger and lemon thyme are bright and expressive in this harmonious, medium-bodied white. A core of flavor deftly swathes the firm frame of racy acidity and stony minerality.
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