Riesling Sommerberg 2021 Grand Cru Zind Humbrecht | Alsace

Among the elite ofAlsace wines, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg shines with granite elegance and aromatic clarity. Located in Niedermorschwihr, Grand Cru Sommerberg extends over particularly steep, south-facing slopes rising to an altitude of almost 450 meters. Over the centuries, this steep slope has eroded into a very poor, draining soil of granitic arena known as Turckheim granite, forcing the vines to dig deep and the winemakers to work patiently, often with winches. The Rieslings from this anthological parcel are renowned for being straightforward, intense and long-lasting, even when young. This ancient terroir, cultivated on narrow terraces, became part of the wine estate in 2013, following a long process of replanting and recultivating previously fragmented plots. From the outset, the wine estate has applied biodynamic principles, with limited yields, manual labor and management that respects the ecosystem. The 2021 vintage, marked by climatic incidents, saw yields drop to a surprisingly ripe concentration, with particularly refined acidity. The grapes were vinified with their indigenous yeasts, without input, then matured on lees in old foudres, to reveal the deep energy of the place without constraining it.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg embodies the mineral rigor typical ofAlsace, while remaining crisp and vibrant. Its finesse makes it one of the vineyard's great expressions, with a clear, straight profile that is already pleasing when young. This vintage, marked by balanced ripeness and an unusual tension in dry years, will prove exciting to drink over the next ten to twenty years.

On the nose, the wine opens with a delicate, still discreet palette of white flowers and fresh citrus. A mineral framework of rubbed stone hints at the imprint of the granite terroir in the years to come.

Tracing acidity structures the palate around a rectilinear tension of rare elegance. The texture is fine, almost ethereal, filled with delicate aromas of citrus and fresh herbs. The lingering, racy, vibrant finish is in keeping with the straightforwardness of the Sommerberg terroir and the assertive style of Domaine Zind Humbrecht.