Riesling "Clos Windsbuhl" 2022 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 purity of its acidic structure, balanced by a subtle patina of texture, the result of long ageing on the lees. Olivier Humbrecht speaks of a "saline, ripe acidity" typical of this limestone hillside, a signature that we find here in a very accomplished form. This Riesling embodies the austere nobility of the place, while hinting at great ageing potential.

On the nose, the wine is still reserved, a sign of its youth. A fine mist of citrus floats above the glass, between lime, pink grapefruit and lemon caviar. The purity of the aromas is impressive, and calls for the first sip.

On the palate, the attack is straightforward, carried by velvety acidity that unravels a taut thread from start to finish. The mid-palate reveals a silky texture with accents of fresh citrus, coupled with an almost iodine-like saline minerality. The finish stretches long, with a crystalline, vibrant elegance that belies the image of a solar vintage. This resonance proves, if proof were needed, the savoir-faire of Domaine Zind Humbrecht, a true ambassador of contemporary Alsace.