Winemaker Notes
To taste a late-harvest Riesling is always a moment of outstanding pleasure and a joy to all the senses. Several years have been required for this wine to approach maturity, because such a rare, noble product calls for patience and respect in order to reveal its true class and personality. It has a deep, bright and youthful color with strong green reflections. Its forthright, characteristic bouquet assumes its own potential, bringing together lively citrus aromas of pink grapefruit, lime, lemon balm and citronella, backed by delicately aromatic floral fragrances and just a touch of the mineral character so typical of the proud Riesling grape. The palate is a profusion of gustatory pleasures, flavourful, tender, velvety, soft and juicy, its gentle harmony prolonged by the framework of noble acidity that only the Riesling is capable of displaying. A unique moment of refinement and sensitivity.
A wine to drink just for itself, or with a fresh fruit tart, or chicken in lemon, or with meat or fish in sweet and sour or acidulous sauces. This wine has great ageing potential. Serve it at 8°C.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Hugels are conservative in their approach to vendange tardive, and after their 2001 Riesling Vendange Tardvie there will not be another such Riesling release until the 2005. With a beautifully bitter-sweet aroma of buddleia, quince, and chalk dust that would do a Loire Chenin proud, the 2001 comes onto the palate opulent and creamy yet delicately poised (reflecting its under-12% alcohol) and with flavors of quince and peach preserves, fresh lime, and orange marmalade, then lingers long on honeyed richness, subtle minerality, and mysterious hints of truffle and musk. This classic will also linger in your cellar without diminishing in quality for at least the next dozen years. (The equally opulent and rich 1998 is drinking beautifully today, but lacks the delicacy or depth of this 2001.)
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Small but mighty, this picturesque region in northeastern France is renowned for its white wines produced by passionate families whose winemaking roots span generations and even centuries. Nestled between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, Alsace benefits from a sunny, dry climate and a long growing season. It is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world — one of the many reasons why Alsace rocks!
Alsace wines include dry, mineral-driven Riesling, earthy Pinot Gris, refreshing Pinot Blanc, exuberant Gewurztraminer, elegant Pinot Noir, and more. From traditional-method sparkling wines to easy-drinking AOC Alsace, to complex Grand Cru bottlings from 51 distinct sites, and rich, late harvest wines, Alsace produces a wine for every occasion. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and are labeled with the grape name. The region is also one of the greenest wine-producing areas in France, with 36% of its vineyard area certified organic.
Riesling, the region’s calling card, is dry, fresh and floral in its youth, developing complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Pinot Blanc is an affable food partner or porch sipper. Pinot Noir, the only red grape in AOC Alsace, is now authorized in three Grand Cru areas and is also used for Crémant d’Alsace sparkling rosé. Any bottle you choose will offer deliciousness, pleasure and value that is unprecedented in other wine regions.