Domaine Zind-Humbrecht : Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" 2016

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" 2016 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Tasting

Appearance

The colour is an intense yellow, reflecting the advanced ripeness of the grapes.

Nose

The nose is striking for its strong sense of place and structure, moving away from the classic aromatic signature of Gewurztraminer. It gives way to touches of light fruit and subtle spice, but it is above all notes of crushed rock, dried herbs and oregano that dominate, reflecting the mineral imprint of the Clos Windsbuhl.

Palate

On the palate, this wine surprises with its richness, as the nose gives no hint of such intensity. The sweetness, clearly present on the finish, remains delicately balanced, and the wine remarkably conceals its concentration. The structure remains fine despite the high level of ripeness, and the wine is destined for a slow, gradual evolution.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" 2016 pairs beautifully with foie gras, blue-veined cheeses and rich dishes dominated by umami. Its restrained sweetness and acidic tension also make it an excellent companion for spicy cuisines, whether Asian or Indian.

Serving and Cellaring

The Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" 2016 has a particularly long ageing potential, supported by its balance of sugar, acidity and structure, with a slow, gradual evolution expected.

An Alsace Gewurztraminer from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Shaped by the Minerality of the Clos Windsbuhl

The Estate

Founded in 1959 in Turckheim, Alsace, through the union of the Zind and Humbrecht families, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht has established itself as a benchmark for Alsace white wines. It is now run by Olivier and Margaret Humbrecht, joined since 2019 by their son Pierre-Emile. The estate farms just over 40 hectares spread across several grands crus and historic clos, cultivated using Demeter-certified biodynamic farming. This exacting approach aims to express the diversity of Alsace's terroirs with precision.

The Vineyard

The Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" 2016 comes from a historic clos located on the heights of Hunawihr, in Alsace, of which Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is the sole owner. The vines are rooted in Muschelkalk limestone soil, a thin, shelly limestone that forces the roots to dig deep. The parcels face south/south-east on moderate slopes, benefiting from a late-ripening climate that delays maturity, preserves pronounced acidity and naturally limits the development of botrytis.

The Vintage

In the 2016 vintage, the Gewurztraminer from the Clos Windsbuhl reached very high ripeness while retaining a total acidity that is remarkable for this grape variety, a sign of a growing cycle that managed to preserve both concentration and freshness thanks to the late-ripening climate specific to this terroir.

Winemaking and Ageing

The winemaking for the Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" 2016 follows the estate's philosophy, which favours long fermentations in large wooden foudres, with no chaptalisation or fining. The wine was aged on its lees before bottling, for a duration consistent with the estate's practice of usually leaving twelve to twenty-four months before bottling, depending on the cuvée.

Grape Variety

100% Gewurztraminer