Gewürztraminer Heimbourg, Sélection de Grains Nobles 2005 375ml

The Gewürztraminer Heimbourg Sélection de Grains Nobles 2005 is a lusciously sweet white wine from Alsace, made from botrytis-affected grapes grown in the Heimbourg vineyard. At 10.0% Vol., it is not alcohol that carries this wine, but sweetness held in shape by a vibrant acidity.

Alsace packs remarkably diverse geology into a small area. In top vintages, Heimbourg provides the microclimate in which Botrytis cinerea develops cleanly. Domaine Zind-Humbrecht farms 42 hectares; the Humbrecht family has been growing wine since 1620. Olivier Humbrecht, the first Frenchman to hold the title of Master of Wine, converted the first five hectares to biodynamic farming in 1996, followed by Demeter certification in 2002.

Gewürztraminer, hand-harvested: only individually selected, raisined berries make it to the press. The estate's yields lie between 30 and 40 hectolitres per hectare. After fermentation, the wine rests on its lees for at least six months, and no vintage leaves the cellar before one to two years of ageing.

Dense and viscous, with dried apricot, candied lemon peel, wild honey and rose petals, alongside a spice note with an oriental air. The acidity draws the opulent sweetness into focus, and the finish lingers long and layered. A wine with great ageing potential.

Foie gras terrine, mature Munster cheese and a pungent blue cheese such as Roquefort, finishing with a tarte Tatin or a fruit tart with sabayon. It also stands beautifully on its own.

Half bottle of 375 ml. Horses are once again working the estate's steepest vineyards, and since 2019 Pierre Émile Humbrecht has been part of the eleventh generation running the estate.