Technical presentation
| Bottling : | March 2015 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 12.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 8.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 5.2 g/l H2SO4 |
| pH : | 3.0 |
| Yield : | 34 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2018-2038+ |
| Average age of vines : | 39 years |
| Terroir : | Clos Windsbuhl |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Muschelkalk calcareous, South/South East facing |
Description of the wine Riesling Clos Windsbuhl 2013
The Clos Windsbuhl is located on top of a small hill attached to the Vosges forest, just above the village of Hunawihr. Its location explains the late ripening climate, enhanced by the calcareous (Muschelkalk) soil. This is a rare example of vineyard that can be at its best with many different grape varieties. The history of the vineyard goes back to the 14th century when the Windsbuhl was property of the Habsburgs (Alsace was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire). Through history, this vineyard was renowned for the longevity of its wines, mostly due to their tight structures. Every vintage since 1988, when the domaine became the owner of this great vineyard, we could witness the influence of the soil and climate on the wines. The 2013 Riesling clearly shows this textbook character after a yearlong fermentation.
Tasting notes
3/2015: the nose shows racy aromas: fruits, wet stones and is already very elegant. There is no extra weight and the palate feels razor sharp, with a mineral acidity that is unique to this vineyard. The finish is very long, but it is more the complexity of the calcareous showing in the wine that makes it remarkable than the sheer weight of the wine. There are some residual sugars, so says the analysis, but I still have to find them! Great ageing potential.
The Clos Windsbuhl of Hunawihr
The altitude of the vineyard coupled with Hunawihr’s tardy climate means that the Clos Windsbuhl is often one of the last of our vineyards to be harvested. This explains the aromatic quality of the Clos’ wines and the consistent balance of acidity, a guarantee of good ageing. Although often harvested late, the Windsbuhl grapes are only rarely botryitized, doubtless due to the altitude of the vineyard, but nevertheless often reach high levels of maturity.