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...
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Product notes
The Riesling is planted on the lower part of the small Heimbourg single vineyard. It is actually the steepest part. The top soil is a siliceous calcareous marl, but quickly the roots reach the Oligocen mother rock that contains a high proportion of limestone making it tough for the vines. The proximity of the mother rock does lower the vigour of the vines significantly, explaining the lower yields achieved in this vineyard. This is arguably one of the most precocious vineyard location in Alsace, but both the valley cool winds and a cooler soil bring a tremendous amount of freshness to the wines. A drier climate in summer makes it also nowadays easier to control the development of noble rot, therefore the wines are getting drier and drier year after year. The fermentation was actually relatively easy for this wine, the wild yeasts left no residual sugars in this vintage.
Tasting notes
Pale gold in color. The nose shows a delicate combination of citrus fruit aromas and dry herbs. There is a definite influence from the limestone soil on this wine, keeping it restraint and discreet in its early days, a character which is enhanced by the long full lees contact until bottling. The palate shows a bright intensity, a vivacious and sapid acidity and fine texture. Harmonious and delicate finish, inviting, yet dry and racy.