Winemaker Notes
This wine pairs well with seafood, shellfish, pork chops, goat cheese or sushi.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
In a departure from typical recent behavior, Zind-Humbrecht’s 2011 Riesling Clos Windsbuhl (last tasted from cask) fermented to a mere four grams of residual sugar. Yet, it reached only a modest 13.4% alcohol. This boasts hazelnut and walnut piquancy, musky inner-mouth perfume, and juicy white peach and lemon on a palpably dense, expansive, yet somehow also buoyant palate. Where the corresponding Clos Hauserer bore at least superficial resemblance to Chablis, here one might detect some kinship with Meursault. In either case, there is an undeniable sense of chalky, stony underpinnings as well as a vibratory finishing intensity with a sense of animation and sheer juiciness rare for the vintage. Plan to follow this through at least 2028.
Rating: 92-93 -
Wine Spectator
A well-knit, fresh and accessible white, offering a sense of finesse and restraint to the finely layered flavors of fresh-cut apple, melon, ground ginger and white pepper, with hints of citrus zest, almond and fleur de sel and a long, smoky finish. Drink now through 2025.
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.