Domaine Zind-Humbrecht : Pinot Gris "Clos Jebsal" Vendanges tardives 2018

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Pinot Gris "Clos Jebsal" Vendanges Tardives 2018 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Tasting

Appearance

The colour is an intense gold, which may evolve towards more golden or even coppery highlights over time, a typical signature of late-harvest wines produced on this terroir.

Nose

The nose unfolds in a register of very ripe white and yellow fruits, peach, apricot and nectarine, accompanied by notes of pear, honey and beeswax. Floral touches mingle with more mineral, smoky or stony nuances, characteristic of this gypsum terroir.

Palate

The palate unfolds with amplitude and roundness, carried by a natural richness that is present yet balanced by a fresh acidity typical of the clos's marly soils. The long, velvety finish prolongs the sensations of ripe fruit and honey without ever feeling heavy.

Food and wine pairings

This Pinot Gris "Clos Jebsal" Vendanges Tardives 2018 pairs beautifully with blue-veined cheeses, such as a bleu or a Roquefort, whose saltiness and power match the richness of the wine. It also shines alongside fruit desserts, such as peach or apricot tart, as well as with lightly spiced Asian cuisine, where its sweetness tempers the heat of the dishes. It can also be enjoyed on its own at the end of a meal, as a contemplative wine.

Serving and cellaring

This Pinot Gris "Clos Jebsal" Vendanges Tardives 2018 is best served chilled, at around 10 to 12°C, a temperature that reveals its aromatic richness without dulling its freshness. Wines from the Clos Jebsal are renowned for their discreet character in youth, suggesting that this vintage will benefit from a favourable evolution in bottle.

A sweet Pinot Gris from Alsace, an expression of the Clos Jebsal monopole in Turckheim

The estate

Founded in 1959 in Wintzenheim, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is now based in Turckheim, in Alsace, and run by Olivier and Margaret Humbrecht, joined since 2019 by their son Pierre-Émile. A pioneer of biodynamics, practised since the late 1990s, the estate farms just over 40 hectares spread across a mosaic of great Alsatian terroirs, including several monopoles such as the Clos Jebsal. This family-run estate is recognised as one of the benchmarks of biodynamic viticulture in France.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the Clos Jebsal, a 1.3-hectare monopole of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, located in Turckheim in Alsace. The name of the lieu-dit means "place of gypsum", in reference to the grey marls and Keuper gypsum that make up its soil. Facing due south on a steep slope, this early-ripening terroir benefits from good water retention, which promotes both the overripening of the grapes and the preservation of fresh acidity.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage allowed noble rot to develop on the Clos Jebsal, leading to a late harvest of overripe grapes, in keeping with the clos's late-harvest tradition.

Winemaking and ageing

The Pinot Gris "Clos Jebsal" Vendanges Tardives 2018 is crafted according to the estate's philosophy, founded on demanding biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. Fermentation is slow and the wine benefits from extended ageing on its full lees before bottling, allowing it to develop its complexity without any corrections.

Grape variety

This wine is made from Pinot Gris.