Famille Hugel
Riesling ESTATE 2015
A new selection "parcellaire" of carefully chosen plots of the Famille Hugel estate situated in Riquewihr in its most prestigious crus. Most of the plots chosen for this new wine are being converted into Organic viticulture.
The unique marl soils of Riquewihr, in and around the Schoenenbourg give a characteristic minerality to wines from this remarkable terroir.
A wine of depth and of patience.
The unique marl soils of Riquewihr, in and around the Schoenenbourg give a characteristic minerality to wines from this remarkable terroir.
A wine of depth and of patience.
Specifications
Alcohol content : 14.07 % vol.
Residual Sugar : 6.5 g/l
Tartaric acidity : 7.81 g/l
pH : 3.04
Age of vines : 35 years old
Yield : 50 hl/ha hL/ha
Presentation
Quick View
Riesling is the Pinot Noir of white wines! It is our most demanding variety as it is also the latest ripening. Dry and elegant, it expresses itself best on our steepest slopes with the most complex minerality.
The vintage
2015 will go down as an exceptional vintage year for the whole of France. After one of the hottest and driest summers since 2003 and a harvest quality to rivals those of the great "solar" vintages of 1945, 1976, 1989 and 2009, the Alsace region will be no exception.
The year started with quite normal weather conditions, a total of 6 days below freezing (up to -6°C) during the winter. The spring was, however, pleasant and sunny. The vines budded slightly later than usual, around the 13 April, and blossomed during the first weeks of June, indicating an early vintage. This was normal considering the low rain fall, a record of only 30mm between 4 May and 24 July! These dry conditions were compounded by a heatwave that lasted for almost the whole of July.
By the time the grapes started to ripen, the vines were suffering, especially in the more well-drained soils with limited reserves of water. Riquewihr and its loamy soil seemed to have escaped the worst of this and the heavy rain that came in mid-August saved the harvest just in time.
We started grape-picking on the 10 September, three days later than the rest of the Alsace, and the first grapes to arrive in the winery gave every indication of an exceptional vintage year. The grapes were perfectly healthy and ripe; their supple acidity was a taste of great wine to come. The Pinots, especially the magnificent Pinot Noir, of this great "solar" year were highly appreciated.
Only one day of rain disrupted the harvest, which was already well underway at the time.
The rapid acceleration of the ripening during the third week and a nice outbreak of botrytis meant the most part of our Riesling de Schoenenbourg were harvested late, and once again the Engelkritt (Angels' Vine) won us not one but two of the "Sélection de Grains Nobles" awards for this grape variety, the most concentrated being at a potential of 23°!
The year started with quite normal weather conditions, a total of 6 days below freezing (up to -6°C) during the winter. The spring was, however, pleasant and sunny. The vines budded slightly later than usual, around the 13 April, and blossomed during the first weeks of June, indicating an early vintage. This was normal considering the low rain fall, a record of only 30mm between 4 May and 24 July! These dry conditions were compounded by a heatwave that lasted for almost the whole of July.
By the time the grapes started to ripen, the vines were suffering, especially in the more well-drained soils with limited reserves of water. Riquewihr and its loamy soil seemed to have escaped the worst of this and the heavy rain that came in mid-August saved the harvest just in time.
We started grape-picking on the 10 September, three days later than the rest of the Alsace, and the first grapes to arrive in the winery gave every indication of an exceptional vintage year. The grapes were perfectly healthy and ripe; their supple acidity was a taste of great wine to come. The Pinots, especially the magnificent Pinot Noir, of this great "solar" year were highly appreciated.
Only one day of rain disrupted the harvest, which was already well underway at the time.
The rapid acceleration of the ripening during the third week and a nice outbreak of botrytis meant the most part of our Riesling de Schoenenbourg were harvested late, and once again the Engelkritt (Angels' Vine) won us not one but two of the "Sélection de Grains Nobles" awards for this grape variety, the most concentrated being at a potential of 23°!
In the vineyard
Selection "parcellaire" of some of the best plots within the Hugel family estate in Riquewihr in its most prestigious crus.
A very clear dominance of the
Schoenenbourg character with its unique marly character.
A very clear dominance of the
Schoenenbourg character with its unique marly character.
Winemaking
The grapes are taken in small tubs to the presses, which are filled by gravity, without any pumping or other mechanical intervention.
After pressing, the must is decanted for a few hours, then fermented in temperature-controlled barrels or vats (at 18 to 24°C). The wine is racked just once, before natural clarification during the course of the winter. The following spring, the wine is lightly filtered just before bottling, and the bottles are then aged in our cellars until released for sale.
The whole production of this wine is closed with DIAM the cork without the risk of cork taint.
After pressing, the must is decanted for a few hours, then fermented in temperature-controlled barrels or vats (at 18 to 24°C). The wine is racked just once, before natural clarification during the course of the winter. The following spring, the wine is lightly filtered just before bottling, and the bottles are then aged in our cellars until released for sale.
The whole production of this wine is closed with DIAM the cork without the risk of cork taint.
Presentation
Varietal
Riesling : 100%
Specifications
Alcohol content : : 14.07 % vol.
Residual Sugar : : 6.5 g/l
Tartaric acidity : : 7.81 g/l
pH : : 3.04
Age of vines : : 35 years old
Yield : : 50 hl/ha hL/ha
Advice
Video
Tasting notes by Serge Dubs, World's Best Sommelier 1989
A dense, intense and attractive straw yellow colour with significant pale green highlights, a wonderful sheen and silvery sparkle with smooth and sophisticated legs.
The aroma is open, spontaneous, complicated, with the fleshy, expressiveness of ripe fruit, golden apples, apricot, peach, daffodil, freesia, and sweet almonds wonderfully rounded off with a harmonious mineral expression.
The palate is overwhelmed by the presentation, structure and harmony of its overall attack of the senses.
This is a dry, sophisticated and full-bodies wine with a strong character, full of flavour and joy, well stated its persistent mineral aroma is almost reassuring.
A wonderfully typical, easy to drink and authentic Riesling.
Ideal for immediate consumption. This is a gastronomic wine that can be laid down for 5 to 12 years; best served at 8°C.
Sea-fish: roast turbot, ray in butter, king prawns and lobster, pike in Riesling, smoked eel, Arctic char. Coq au Riesling, veal blanquette.
The aroma is open, spontaneous, complicated, with the fleshy, expressiveness of ripe fruit, golden apples, apricot, peach, daffodil, freesia, and sweet almonds wonderfully rounded off with a harmonious mineral expression.
The palate is overwhelmed by the presentation, structure and harmony of its overall attack of the senses.
This is a dry, sophisticated and full-bodies wine with a strong character, full of flavour and joy, well stated its persistent mineral aroma is almost reassuring.
A wonderfully typical, easy to drink and authentic Riesling.
Ideal for immediate consumption. This is a gastronomic wine that can be laid down for 5 to 12 years; best served at 8°C.
Sea-fish: roast turbot, ray in butter, king prawns and lobster, pike in Riesling, smoked eel, Arctic char. Coq au Riesling, veal blanquette.
