Zind-Humbrecht Alsace Goldert Grand Cru Gewurztraminer (stained label) 1998
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Robert
Parker
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The Goldert Grand Cru is a beautiful terroir of Oolithic limestone located on the town of Gueberschwihr, south of Colmar. The slope gradient is gentle and it’s east facing is less sun drenched than many other Grands Crus in the region. This gives the vineyard a late ripening character, reinforced by a soil warming up slowly. As the grapes are also less exposed to the sun’s rays, the Goldert topography therefore helps to preserve the aromatic finesse of the grapes. The aromatic grape varieties, Muscat and Gewurztraminer, are the most represented on this beautiful terroir.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aromatically, the 1998 Gewurztraminer Goldert Vendange Tardive appeared to be in a reductive state, displaying leathery scents. Olivier Humbrecht maintains that these aromas are nothing more than this wine's expression of its deep minerality. On the palate, it is mind-boggling. Oily layers of intense mineral, floral (roses and violets), and red fruit flavors can be discerned in its hugely concentrated and powerful character. It is full-bodied, gorgeously detailed and balanced.
Certified Organic and Biodynamic.
Gewürztraminer, an expressive and aromatically distinctive white grape variety, is considered a noble variety in the Alsace region of France, and produces wonderful wines in the mountainous Alto Adige region of NE Italy. Generally this grape grows well in cooler regions and its natural intensity makes it a great ally for flavorful cuisine such as Indian, Middle Eastern or Moroccan. Somm Secret—Because of a charming perfume and tendency towards slight sweetness, Gewürztraminer makes for an excellent gateway wine for those who love sweet wines but want to venture into the realm of drier whites.
With its fairytale aesthetic, Germanic influence and strong emphasis on white wines, Alsace is one of France’s most unique viticultural regions. This hotly contested stretch of land running north to south on France’s northeastern border has spent much of its existence as German territory. Nestled in the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains, it is one of the driest regions of France but enjoys a long and cool growing season. Autumn humidity facilitates the development of “noble rot” for the production of late-picked sweet wines, Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles.
The best wines of Alsace can be described as aromatic and honeyed, even when completely dry. The region’s “noble” varieties, the only ones permitted within Alsace’s 51 Grands Crus vineyards, are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, and Pinot Gris.
Riesling is Alsace’s main specialty. In its youth, Alsace Riesling is dry, fresh and floral, but develops complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics, and is often utilized for late harvest wines. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Muscat, vinified dry, tastes of ripe green grapes and fresh rose petal.
Other varieties grown here include Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chasselas, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir—the only red grape permitted in Alsace and mainly used for sparkling rosé known as Crémant d’Alsace. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and unlike other French regions, are also labeled with the variety name.