Auxerrois Rotenberg 2022
Dry Auxerrois from Alsace, grown on the sparse red limestone of the Rotenberg on the western slope of the Grand Cru Hengst, and separately vinified since 2021.
CHF 40.00
Prices in CHF, including customs duty and all import charges, plus shipping CHF 15 (free from 12 bottles or CHF 300) — no further charges on delivery.
Available for Switzerland
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About this wine
Character
A dry Alsatian white wine that draws its effect from freshness and a saline base rather than power. Radiant golden yellow in the glass, light-fruited on the nose, cool and taut on the palate.
Terroir and origin
The Rotenberg lies on the western slope of the Grand Cru Hengst on sparse, rocky red limestone, facing a forest. A quiet spot where the grapes ripen slowly. Even Emile Zind, Olivier Humbrecht's grandfather, loved this vineyard; the oldest part was planted in the early 1950s.
Grape variety and vinification
Pure Auxerrois. For many years, grapes from the Rotenberg went into blends; since 2021 the site has been vinified separately. As with most wines of the 2022 vintage, fermentation proceeded very slowly, and the wine was finished dry, 13.5% ABV. Olivier Humbrecht converted the estate's first five hectares to biodynamic farming in 1996.
On the palate
Quince, pear, fresh grapes and lemon meet salted butter, dry pastry, oyster shell and almonds; a chalky note lends depth, while grapefruit and lemon zest add play. Cool finesse, the finest acidity, a saline streak, and a delicate tannin on the finish that whets the appetite.
Food pairings
Asparagus with grapefruit-butter sauce, new potatoes and basil; roasted miso cauliflower with piquillo-preserved lemon jus, dried olive, pepper and chives; smoked trout with apple-celery salad. Vegan and vegetarian dishes also shine here.
Special features
Patience rules in the cellar: at least six months of lees contact, no wine leaves the estate before one to two years of aging, and yields sit at 30 to 40 hectoliters per hectare. Olivier Humbrecht is the first Frenchman to hold the title of Master of Wine.
