Gewürztraminer Roche Calcaire 2022

A Gewürztraminer that captures the variety's spice rather than letting it run wild. The nose is cool, herbal and compact, with candied grapefruit, apricot and apricot skin, peach, underscored by bergamot, white chocolate and star anise.

The grapes grow in the old vineyards of Hengst and Windsbuhl. Missing vines are replaced there with young plantings, and the older the parcels grow, the larger this proportion becomes. These vigorous young vines at the start of the rows are picked separately before the main harvest and do not go into the Grand Vin. The limestone delays ripening, lends structure and sometimes a touch more acidity, layering spicy, mineral notes over the variety's exuberant aromatics.

Gewürztraminer is tannic and naturally low in acidity; it needs phenolic ripeness and is therefore often the last grape picked in Alsace. On limestone, sugar rises more slowly, keeping the alcohol potential in check: 13.0% ABV. Because the grapes arrive at the cellar very ripe, the Roche Calcaire generally retains a natural residual sweetness. Olivier Humbrecht, the first Frenchman to become a Master of Wine, converted the estate to biodynamic farming starting in 1996.

Spicy, with delicate fruit and freshness. The fine tannin whets the appetite and enlivens the drinkability, fruit playing off acidity and intense minerality. Firm structure, paired with elegance and finesse.

Macarons filled with foie gras, raspberry jelly and thyme, Munster cheese baked in filo pastry with anise-steeped grapefruit and a delicate honey glaze, as well as grilled prawns with orange-ginger butter. The wine wraps around the dishes and enhances them without overpowering them.

A wine born of the ongoing care of old vineyard sites. Decant if possible and serve in large glasses.