2015 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This was not the wine I was expecting as it has a very different profile in 2015.  Much drier and more savory than a typical vintage but still quite good.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some lychee but is more about sea air, some pine, and pears.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, the pears come out with a strong minerality.  There is plenty of depth and tight complexity at the moment.  This will no doubt develop more over time.  It will need another five to seven years to reach peak and should drink well for a decade after that.  It works better with food.  Thai is

2017 Hugel Gentil "Hugel", France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

Always one of the great value whites, it had been a few vintages since I had tried this.  Still quite good.  It is a blend of 40% Sylvaner, with Pinot Blanc Auxerrois, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, and a little Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel and Muscat d’Alsace. The name Gentil is therefore reserved for AOC Alsace wines fulfilling the superior-quality blending standards.

2002 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$66.00USD

For those who don't believe that Gewurztraminer can age, they would be wrong as this wine shows.  Deep golden in color.  Clear and bright.  A gorgeous nose of lychees with smokey notes and a slight sea air quality.  This is slightly viscous.  It gives the impression that this will be sweet but drinks more semi-sweet although with air, the sweetness comes out more.  Thee palate has peaches with layers of fruit and minerals.  Long finish.  This is drinking beautifully at age 18.  Seems like it could easily do another five to maybe ten more.  Works great on its own and will work well with sala

1995 Zind-Humbrecht Muscat Herrenweg de Turckheim Vendange Tardive, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

So, one day in the wine cellar, I discovered this bottle had sprung a leak.  It was stood up and as soon as the opportunity offered itself, the cork was popped.  The wine showed great.  A twenty five year old sweet Muscat from one of the top producers anywhere.  The cork showed it has leaked from two spots.  The wine was deep golden in color.  A lovely nose of canned peaches with some minerals.  Viscous.  Just slightly sweet.  On the palate, this is good, but I had hoped for a bit more depth and complexity.  The peaches come thru.  No real signs of age or oxidation.  Good finish.  Old bottl

2015 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

This is a wonderful Riesling made in the Alsace region of France.  It is a distinct style that is different from neighboring Germany.  In Alsace it can be hard to tell if a wine is dry or sweet.  This one is dry.  It is young and needs more time, but even so, it provides a lot of pleasure today.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has minerals, orange peel and slight peach.  On the palate, this is full bodied and slightly viscous.  Delicious.  Notes of orange peel and peaches carry thru along with a hint of ginger over a mineral base.  This wine needs a decade at least until

2015 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

One of my favorite Alsatian wineries and my favorite bottling of theirs.  This vintage is no exception.  Light yellow god in color, but also quite intense.  On the nose, this is pretty with peaches, baking spice and a nice minerality.  On the palate, this is just slightly sweet.  A bit viscous.  The peaches carry thru but also also a steely quality.  Consumed over two nights, it was better on the second night.  More complex and deep, but still very lively and little oxidation.  Long finish.  This should continue to improve for the next seven to ten years and be good for ten to fifteen after

2007 Wolfberger Pinot Gris Rangen, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is a sweet wine though no markings on the bottle to indicate that.  It was served after a meal and worked well.  Not cloying but more than off dry.  Light golden in color.  The nose has honey and apricots.  Also a bit of ginger.  This is viscous.  On the palate, the honey and apricots come thru.  Enough acidity to bring it all together.  Will work well with fruit desserts or on its own.  Seems to be cruising along just fine so at least another five and probably ten years at this level.  

1988 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Vendange Tardive, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1988
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

The evening wasn't quite done and this fit the bill for a little something sweet to finish the night.  From a 375ml bottle.  Deep golden/orange in color.  The nose is pretty with lychees, oranges and slight simple syrup.  Also a nice underlying minerality.  On the palate, this is slightly viscous.  Much fresher than a bottle a couple of years ago.  Lychees, apricots with a bit of sweetness.  A nice bit of acidity to balance things out.  Long finish that was clean and without bitterness.  Just delicious and interesting to sip on its own, it would work with a slightly sweet dessert.  

2002 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Beautiful showing for this bottle.  Gorgeous color if a bit worrisome.  A deep burnt orange color.  The nose is very nice with a slight petrol quality along with apricots and slight honey.  On the palate, this is slightly viscous.  Not as sweet as it was in it's youth though still some sweetness.  Peaches, slight honey, slight almond note on the finish.  Complex and deep.  It is evolving nicely and well stored bottles should continue to be a treat for a while.  This went well with a salad and will probably have more synergy with lighter foods at this point in its life.  

NV Wolfberger Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Made from 100% Pinot Noir.  Salmon pink in color.  Head has larger bubbles. The nose is nice with strawberries and slight apple notes.  A bit lean and crisp.  On the palate, flavors of strawberries continue thru along with some watermelon.  There is a slight bitterness on the mid-palate.  Overall, this drinks easy.  Worked well with some cheeses.  Made a nice starter at a party.

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