Glories from the Alsace

Zind Humbrecht is one of the great names of the Alsace, and one of the producers we are most proud to stock - our annual tasting with Olivier Humbrecht is one of the highlights of the Uncorked calendar. Those of you who attended Olivier's last visit on Thursday 12th will have seen how he triumphed against an adverse vintage beset by summer rains and hail to produce some amazingly fine, bright wines which are both delightful to drink now and which will ripen and develop aromatic depth in the cellar.

After the summer rains, a very dry September meant less noble rot than usual, and more wines being made towards the dry (1) rather than sweet (5) end of the indice spectrum used by the domaine. There is only one VT this year - the Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal - and no SGNs at all. The Rieslings are all dry. As Olivier writes, conditions were "perhaps perfect" for dry Riesling, and those of you who attended the tasting will have been struck by the aromatic intensity of those dry Rieslings.

The various Pinot Gris have mostly come out in off-dry styles, whilst there is more sweetness among the Gewurztraminers; again, those of you who attended the tasting will remember the Hengst as a classically expressive example of the varietal while the Goldert is a fine, delicate beauty that needs more time. And if any of you are particular fans of the Gewurztraminer Heimbourg, buy now, because the vines are gone and it will be the last Gewurztraminer to be made from that vineyard. /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold; available autumn

To place an order, click on the wine name below, reply to this email, or call 020 7638 5998