Pinot Gris Rotenberg
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.
Smokey, stone fruit aromas with secondary notes of thyme and oregano. The palate presents a certain sharpness but expresses lovely aromas of stone fruit and grilled almonds. It is a dry and precise wine, and shows mouthwatering acidity.
A remarkable pinot gris that radically breaks the mold. Although this has stunning roasted apricot and smoky aromas in the nose it is actually a very cool and restrained wine with enormous mineral tension. Some may find this too extreme, but for us it has an almost overwhelming beauty. From biodynamically grown grapes.
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A staggeringly youthful and expressive dry pinot gris that has tons of power, but the mango and floral-honey aromas are discreet. Rich yet focused, bone-dry palate. Breathtakingly refreshing at the salty finish, making you feel like you’ve lifted off from the surface of the earth, even if only by one millimeter. From biodynamically grown grapes.
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Something vivid and bright gives an unusually light step to this Alsace Pinot Gris. Notes of flesh and skin of ripe russet pear play on the nose. On the dry palate they attain extra purity, guided by lemon freshness. The finish is dry, lip-smacking and lasting. Lovely now, it's sure to develop.
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A closed nose on this wine gives little away. With time some lifted citrus appears. The palate offers a central vein of buffered freshness. Flavors convey ripe, mellow lemon along with the brightness of the peel and texture of the pith. The finish is dry, clean and appetizing.
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A high-altitude vineyard has produced this delicious, crisp and cool wine. While it has weight and rich fruit, it’s the enticing acidity that sets this wine apart. There’s a poise to this wine that gives style while not losing any depth of apple, pear and spice flavors.
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Citrus and white peaches on the nose, making it very lively. A juicy and crisp wine has a lot of energy and citrusy freshness at the long, dry finish. Drink now or in 2019 and 2020. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.
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A complex and spicy nose with a rich array of pears and light peaches. Very aromatic and attractive. The palate has a smooth and gently flinty array of guava and yellow nectarine fruit, twisting towards dryness at the finish.
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Pale gold-tinged yellow. Initially reduced nose opens with aeration to offer aromas of peach, quinine, ginger and grilled meat. Rich and highly concentrated but wonderfully dry and fresh too, showing youthfully tight flavors of lime zest, peach and crushed stone. The long finish features terrific grip, noteworthy finesse and saliva-inducing acidity. Grapes in the Rotenberg ripen slowly so they benefit from longer hang time, and the calcaire soil allows for a leaner, more aromatic, higher-acid profile.
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Crackling acidity defines this linear Pinot Gris, layered with stony minerality and offering a sleek mix of crunchy pear, honey, grapefruit zest, verbena and nut flavors. Finely balanced.
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A well-cut, mineral-driven white, featuring a stony undertow and subtle flavors of crunchy white peach, tangerine peel and apple, with hints of piecrust, honey and blanched almond. Tightly knit and mouthwatering, presenting a long, lingering finish.
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Bone dry, angular and with notable acidity and ageing potential. Lime flavours and still very youthful.
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