Riesling Clos Windsbuhl 2023

A racy, energetic Riesling with a lively texture. The nose is powerful and intense, marked by ripe yellow and golden fruit without any heaviness: apricot, juicy green Williams pear, a subtle balsamic-ethereal freshness over a stony, mineral base with flint and delicate gunpowder notes. Beneath lies an earthy, almost smoky depth.

Clos Windsbuhl in Alsace is a historic clos whose story dates back to the 14th century; it was once owned by the imperial family of Austria. The Riesling stands in the upper part, facing southeast, where the shell limestone nearly breaks the surface on a steep slope. The high, yet sun-exposed site allows for a late ripening: sugar levels remain moderate while physiological ripeness fully develops. Botrytis affects the grapes here only rarely.

Riesling from a 42-year-old vineyard, which yielded 39 hl/ha in 2023. It is the last Riesling harvested at the estate. Fermentation proceeds very slowly, lasting almost until the following summer, followed by at least six months of lees contact. The wine is dry, 12.5% vol.

Dense and compact in structure, with a noticeable phenolic quality that almost recalls chewing tobacco and lends a firm, gripping texture. The acidity remains precise and clear, keeping the wine taut despite its fullness. The minerality shows as stony, saline and maritime, alternating between almost oily phases and bright, cool moments. The long finish is dominated by bright, stony notes with an elegant shell limestone imprint.

Clos Windsbuhl is a monopole of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, farmed biodynamically by Olivier Humbrecht, the first Frenchman to hold the title of Master of Wine. Despite being the estate's latest-picked site, the Windsbuhl often shows one of the highest acidity levels on the domaine, at a moderate alcohol level.