25 Jun 2024

We always look forward to the release of the new vintage from Olivier Humbrecht MW at Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace, so we are delighted that the latest 2022 releases receive excellent scores from the critics, including 100 points from James Suckling for the Rangen de Thann Grand Cru Pinot Gris.  

The value and quality offered by the grands crus, in particular, is extraordinary, with the vines grown on centuries-old sites, composed of highly complex soils thrown up by the steep slopes of the Vosges mountains.

The 2022 growing season saw hot weather in May and June, with further high temperatures in the summer months, but with all-important rain in August.  Hydric stress led to a physiological shutdown in the vines in some areas, preserving acidity.  The concentration of the crop due to low water levels further helped to retain acidity, as we also saw in Burgundy. 

The vintage also led to fruit with low levels of nitrogen, essential for fermentation. As a result, the fermentations at Zind-Humbrecht (which often take in-excess of 12 months) took even longer than usual, contributing great texture and complexity in the finished wines.  Vinous' Anne Krebiehl MW is an authority on riesling and on German and Alsace wines, and her notes on the wines make for excellent reading, highlighting the balance of concentration and aromatic freshness in the 2022s, particularly in the grands crus. 

Please let us know if you would like to add these superb 2022s to your cellar.

Offered pre-landing, available by January 2025.

 

 

 

Producer Profile

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Alsace

The Humbrecht family have grown grapes in the great terroirs of Alsace since 1620.  Domaine Zind Humbrecht was created in 1959 and today owns 40ha of vines in the Grand Crus of Rangen de Thann (5.5ha), Goldert in Gueberschwihr (0.9ha), Hengst in Wintzenheim (1.4ha) and Brand in Turckheim (2.4ha); as well as the terroirs of Rotenberg (1.8ha) and Clos Häuserer (1.2ha) in Wintzenheim; Herrenweg (11.5ha), Clos Jebsal (1.3ha) and Heimbourg (4ha) in Turckheim and the Clos Windsbuhl (5.15ha) in Hunawihr.

As well as being winemaker at the family domaine, Olivier Humbrecht became the first French Master of Wine, in 1989, at the age of just 26.

The expression of terroir, conveyed through grape varieties of Alsace, is reinforced by cultivating the vines organically and according to biodynamic principles. Great lengths are gone to each growing season to produce the best quality grapes from each vineyard. As respect for the vine and soil life is imperative, the viticultural tasks are carried out by a team of 22 dedicated staff members. The high ratio of vineyard worker to vineyard surface enables an attention to detail and the execution of many of the viticultural tasks manually. In addition, animal traction and the use of their own compost help to reduce the impact of mechanical compaction on the soils.  Fermentations are very slow, and the wines spend a minimum of 6 months on the total lees.