Technical presentation
| Bottling : | August 2013 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13° |
| Residual sugar : | 55.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 2.7 g/l H2SO4 / (4.2g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.6 |
| Yield : | 42 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2015-2030 |
| Average age of vines : | 29 years |
| Terroir : | Heimbourg |
| Sweetness index : | 5 |
| Soil : | Calcaire Oligocène, Exposé ouest, Medium to steep slope |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Heimbourg 2012
We took the decision to pull out the Gewurztraminer vines in the Heimbourg a few years ago. The damage done by Esca (fungal disease that disrupts the sap flow in the vine, causing its death) was just too significant and in the recent years we had around 5 to 8% vine mortality every year. The causes of this disease are numerous and too long to expose, but we are now paying severely for the mistakes made 30 years ago. Almost as if the vines knew the end was coming, the Heimbourg produced some of its best vintages in the last few years, including this wine, the 2012, the last harvest of Heimbourg. 2/2012: It takes some time, but eventually the nose opens up to intense refined citrus flavours, citrus skins. Even more air allows for the chalk to speak with light pepper and spices. Freshly open, this wine will be marked by some CO2 and it is important, at least the first years after bottling, to decant for some time before being able to fully enjoy this wine. There is an obvious sense of weight but the finish is elegant and not heavy due to a lower alcohol level. Nice influence of the natural Gewurztraminer tannins that help to increase the acidity sensation on the palate. It is almost possible to forget that it is a sweet wine.
Tasting notes
02/2014 : It takes some time, but eventually the nose opens up to intense refined citrus flavours, citrus skins. Even more air allows for the chalk to speak with light pepper and spices. Freshly open, this wine will be marked by some CO2 and it is important, at least the first years after bottling, to decant for some time before being able to fully enjoy this wine. There is an obvious sense of weight but the finish is elegant and not heavy due to a lower alcohol level. Nice influence of the natural Gewurztraminer tannins that help to increase the acidity sensation on the palate. It is almost possible to forget that it is a sweet wine.
The Heimbourg of Turckheim
The wines produced on the Heimbourg are rich, opulent, often spicy and can include noble rot. The slower ripening of the grapes often produces wines that are aromatically expressive from a young age, contrary to its neighbour the Clos Jebsal with whom we have to show patience.