Technical presentation
| Bottling : | January 2022 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 12.3° |
| Residual sugar : | 4.5 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 5 g/l H2SO4 (7.7 g/l Ac Tartrique) |
| pH : | 2.9 |
| Yield : | 54 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2025-2045+ |
| Average age of vines : | 46 years |
| Terroir : | Clos Windsbuhl |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Medium to steep slope, Muschelkalk calcareous, South East facing, South facing |
Description of the wine Riesling Clos Windsbuhl 2020
If history has inscribed Tokayer (Pinot-Gris) on the Clos Windsbuhl terroir as early as 1760, Riesling may have appeared a little later on this Clos. Known to be in a late ripening climate, the Muschelkalk limestone terroir – or Triassic dolomitic limestone – actually warms up quite quickly. The surface layers of the soil are shallow, the roots grow very quickly in the limestone bedrock and benefit from excellent drainage. The Riesling is planted on the upper part of the Clos, which is more stony and is south-east facing. Experience has also shown us that this terroir does not need power to express itself. On the contrary, healthy grapes will fully express the delicacy and verticality of this terroir, which is capable in each vintage of retaining the rigor and acidity that make it its main characteristic. The 2020 will have taken a long time to finish its fermentation while it has a moderate alcoholic power. The yeasts are in fact inhibited by the acidity of the Windsbuhl and therefore find it very difficult to develop. It is always with great satisfaction and relief that we see the end of fermentation on this wine! Long aging on total lees in old foudres allows the wine to be harmonious at bottling time.
Tasting notes
01/2022 : Bright pale yellow colour. The nose is still slightly closed, almost austere, but discreetly reveals beautiful aromas of citrus fruits, bergamot, verbena and lemongrass. It is easy to feel the youthful austerity of this terroir and to guess a complex evolution over the next few years. The mouthfeel is discreet, almost airy, of great elegance. Very quickly the taste buds are awakened by a ferociously tense structure based on a punchy acidity. The wine forces salivation and its delicacy makes it very easy to appreciate and go back to it. It is a great wine for laying down !
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.