Technical presentation
| Bottling : | February 2021 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13.1° |
| Residual sugar : | 2.4 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 4.6 g/l H2SO4 / (7.0 g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 03.06 |
| Yield : | 50 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2023-2043+ |
| Average age of vines : | 45 years |
| Terroir : | Clos Windsbuhl |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Muschelkalk calcareous |
Description of the wine Riesling Clos Windsbuhl 2019
The Clos Windsbuhl has an incredible history that goes back to the 14th century, when it was owned by the Habsburg of Austria. Alsace was part of the Saint Roman Empire until 1648. Right from the beginning it was always considered a special place, not just for the quality of the wines and their uniqueness, but also for the beauty of the nature that surrounds the vineyard and the strong energy of the ‘hill where the wind plays’. Its higher altitude, the proximity of the forest and the thin rocky limestone soil are probably the main factors that explain why the Windsbuhl produces wines with such elegance and noble character. The vineyard in 2019 was superb, the grapes were perfectly ripe but more important, kept a balance that allowed the indigenous yeasts to craft an intense dry wine. It was kept 18 months on the gross lees before bottling without any manipulation.
Tasting notes
2/2021: pale gold green colour. The nose reflects clearly at this early stage both the influence of the rocky limestone geology and the reductive vinification on full fermenting lees until bottling. It is tight, almost lean, quite strict, but shows just enough of citrus fruit, wet stone, minerals to excite the senses. The wine conquers the palate, not because od sheer power, but because it has so much mineral intensity, racy texture, energy and beautiful sharp presence. The Riesling Clos Windsbuhl is build on its saline acidity and mineral extract balance. The finish is long, delicate and luminous. What a great wine!
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.