Technical presentation
| Bottling : | August 2021 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 15.8° |
| Residual sugar : | 16.5 g/l |
| pH : | 3.8 |
| Yield : | 37 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2025-2045+ |
| Average age of vines : | 69 years |
| Grape variety : | Gewurztraminer |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Hengst |
| Sweetness index : | 3 |
| Soil : | Calcareous Marl from the Oligocene period, South/South East facing, medium/steep slope |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Hengst 2020
The Hengst was classified Grand Cru in November 1982. It is located on a majestic steep south-east facing hillside on the village of Wintzenheim, very close to Colmar. The red limestone soil of the Oligocen period is made of high lime content sandstone containing calcareous pebbles and rich in iron. The top soil is actually quite thin, but the presence of clay (marl) gives this vineyard a very good drought resistances. Still today, Gewurztraminer is the most planted grape variety on the Hengst. Both combination of early ripening climate and high lime and iron content help obtain great phenolic ripeness, crucial for this grape. It also explains why this vineyard is also becoming famous for its red wine! This Gewurztraminer is produced from two very old vineyards located in the middle of the GC. In 2020, the grapes were very ripe and healthy. The ripeness level shows the rich potential of this sunny warm vintage. The Hengst fermented quickly and vigorously, like a stallion (Hengst is a Stallion in Alsace dialect!) and this powerful style suits the vineyard very well.
Tasting notes
08/2021 : Bright yellow/pale gold colour. This wine displays intense rich ripe white fruits aromas (peach, pears…) alongside spicy notes. Clearly, it is impossible to guess the power of this wine such is the nose complex and delicate, probably the result of a very healthy (no noble rot) vintage. This Hengst tastes soft and unctuous at the beginning, coating the palate with a velvety texture, until, it really unrolls its powerful huge intensity. Numbers made this wine qualify as sweet, but it really tastes barely off-dry. The sensation it leaves on the palate is harmony and length. What a wine, and despite its power, it will be a great match with lots of foods! (grilled, smoked, spicy, marinated… anything with character!).
The Hengst Grand Cru of Wintzenheim
The Hengst was first mentioned in the 9th century in an endowment of the Murbach Abbey. The lord of Haut Landsbourg as well as the bailiff of Kaysersberg shared the feudal rights up to the Great Revolution, whilst various noble families, abbeys and the bourgeoisie of Colmar exploited important parcels.