Gentil HUGEL 2013

Our only wine that is a blend of several varieties. The perfect introduction to Alsace wines. A wine that is almost universal as it is suited to great number of occasions.

Presentation

Quick View
This wine revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines assembled from noble grape varieties were called "Gentil". Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of Sylvaner.
The vintage
Rarely have we seen a vintage subject to so many variations in the weather.
The season started late with a damp spring and coulure, causing a smaller than usual crop.
High temperatures and exceptional summer weather brought the grapes to perfect levels of maturity.
Right from the start of our harvest on 1 October the grapes were very healthy and ripe, and so 2013 was a classic Alsace vintage of intense, pure, well balanced wines. Uneven weather at the very end of the harvest prevented any significant production of Late Harvest wines.
In the vineyard
A kaleidoscope of grapiness, produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. A cool and long growing season give this unique dry wine great finesse and unequalled drinkability.
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.
Presentation
Photos of bottles and labels, 3 definitions, max 300dpi
Varietals
Sylvaner & Pinot Blanc : 40%
Pinot gris : 24%
Gewürztraminer : 19%
Riesling : 15%
Muscat : 2%
Specifications
Alcohol content : : 12.5 % vol.
Residual Sugar : : 3.9 g/l
Tartaric acidity : : 5.86 g/l
pH : : 3.31
Age of vines : : 25 years old
Yield : : 65 hl/ha hL/ha

Advice

Video
Tasting notes by Serge Dubs, World's Best Sommelier 1989
Bright, silvery sheen, pale green colour, fresh, lively and youthful with an elegant aspect.

Attractive, flattering bouquet, open and forthcoming, quite aromatic, scented, floral and fruit-driven: cardamom, lemon balm, rose, lime blossom, cherry blossom and sweet almond.

Harmonious and well-rounded, with a nicely ripe - yet not over-ripe - grape character.

On the palate, the wine is dry, generous, soft and supple, almost juicy, filling the mouth, showing good structure but also a nice, fruity, aromatic finish.
A wine with all the hallmarks of a fine, sunny vintage, yet with no loss of finesse.

Enjoy it now, or within 3 years, as an aperitif or serve it at 8°C with fish, grilled, pan-fried or in sauce, red mullet, turbot, pike-perch, lobster, crab, and certain cheeses : comté, reblochon, fourme d'Ambert, or with dishes flavoured with oriental or Indian spices.

Reviews

Double thumbs up for the 2009 !
"Gary Vaynerchuk continues his travel through Norway with more well-priced wines, an interesting white blend from Alsace" [+]
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50 Wines You Can Always Trust
"Here are our picks for the most reliable, most readily available wines in the world - 50 wines that won't let you down.
This venerable Alsace producer makes a wide range of white wines, yet its best-known wine is also its most affordable.
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"If you are looking for a wine that encapsulates Alsace, it is Gentil. It is Hugel's most accessible wine by price and quality. Hugel calls it "the perfect introduction to Alsace". It is a blend of the six classic varieties, sylvaner and pinot blanc being more dominant.

Crisp green apple, floral and citrus notes on the nose. Medium body with refreshing acidity and a clean finish. An approachable, easy to drink style. Perfect on its own, but will pair well with seafood-based dishes from sushi to steamed fish.
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"Non seulement est-il une introduction parfaite aux vins d'Alsace, mais il s'avère également un vin d'une polyvalence remarquable. (.../...)
Aguicheur, il s'exprime sur une trame aromatique alléchante, démontrant une superbe vivacité. On y reconnait un éventail d'arômes surprenants tels que les fleurs blanches, la pomme verte, et la pêche blanche. Comme toujours chez Hugel, le vin est sec et l'on est ébahi par la précision du fruit autant que par la finesse de l'ensemble. Un vin désaltérant qui nous laisse sur une jolie finale émoustillante.
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"I've always just loved this wine; the current 2013 version is as fresh as a pinch of the cheek. "Gentil" is a designation in Alsace of a wine made up of a minimum of 50 percent of one of the "noble" grape varieties of riesling, muscat, pinot gris or gewurztraminer, the remainder of a white grape of the winemaker's choosing. It harks back to the day when many different varieties of grapes were grown together, helter-skelter, in one vineyard, a sort of "field blend."" [+]
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"Reportage du 22 septembre sur notre Gentil par l'équipe France 3 de Mulhouse. A la caméra Bernard Stemmer" [+]
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