Riesling "Clos Windsbuhl" 2021 Zind Humbrecht | Alsace

In the constellation of our great whites, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's Riesling Clos Windsbuhl is an essential landmark. Nestled 350 meters above sea level on the sloping Muschelkalk limestone hillside overlooking Hunawihr, Alsace, this south/southeast-facing walled garden benefits from a thin soil, rich in shell fossils, where limestone bedrock outcrops in places. The late coolness of the site makes it one of the last plots harvested on the wine estate, guaranteeing tension and longevity. Produced from certified biodynamic vines, some of which will be grafted in 2021 onto rootstocks over thirty years old, the Riesling berries are slowly pressed before a very long indigenous fermentation. The wine is then aged for a long period on its lees in large old foudres, without new wood to preserve the purity of the fruit. This alchemy gives the cuvée a racy signature that has thrilledAlsace wine lovers since its creation in the 1980s.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Here's a wine that reminds us how Clos Windsbuhl remains a micro-climate apart. Always the last to enter the cellar, always the first to surprise with its finesse. This vintage impresses with the precision and seriousness of its acid structure, which holds the wine together with great elegance. Olivier Humbrecht speaks of a "lively, salivating acidity" typical of this limestone hillside, a signature found here in a highly accomplished form. This Riesling embodies the austere nobility of the place, while hinting at great ageing potential.

On the nose, the wine is already expressive, despite its youth. Citrus fruit imposes its tightly woven aromatics, with a mineral framework dominating the second nose. The purity and complexity of the aromas are impressive, and call for the first sip.

On the palate, the attack is straightforward, carried by delicate acidity that unravels a taut thread from start to finish. The texture is airy, like lace with accents of fresh citrus. The long finish structures the wine with a vibrant, saline elegance. This resonance proves, if proof were needed, the savoir-faire of Domaine Zind Humbrecht, a true ambassador of contemporary Alsace.