Auxerrois Rotenberg 2021

Wine Description for Auxerrois Rotenberg 2021 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Radiant golden yellow in the glass – a visual promise of concentration and maturity.

Nose

Remarkably complex and multi-layered: quince, pear and apricot form the fruity foundation, whilst roasted almonds and freshly whipped butter suggest a creamy texture. These are joined by flint, candied ginger and honey on freshly toasted baguette with salted butter. A penetrating chalky minerality lends depth and structure to the bouquet – this is no simple Auxerrois.

Palate

Here the true class of this wine reveals itself: cool finesse meets invigorating freshness. The juicy fruit is accompanied by a remarkable grip – a fine yet present tannin structure rarely found in white wines of this type. Mouth-watering and blessed with wonderful drinkability, it simultaneously displays a complexity that invites lingering. At 12.5% vol., it remains elegant and inviting to drink.

Finish

Persistently mineral with a fine echo of stone fruit and limestone – the Rotenberg vineyard site makes itself known.

Terroir & Origin

The Rotenberg lies on the western slope of the Grand Cru Hengst on barren, rocky red limestone. Already Olivier Humbrecht’s grandfather Emile Zind appreciated this quiet location with its old vines from the early 1950s, where the grapes are able to ripen particularly slowly.

Grape Variety & Vinification

For years this Auxerrois was blended with the classic Pinot Blanc. In 2021, the decision was made for the first time to bottle it separately – a decision that has more than paid off. Produced dry after lengthy fermentation and ageing on lees, from very low yields.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Asparagus with salted butter, pear and sorrel, vol-au-vents with poultry, sweetbreads and mushrooms or zander pan-fried skin-side down with shallot and white wine sauce and apricots. The texture and structure of the wine also pairs effortlessly with richer fish dishes and light meats.

Special Features

The first separate vinification of a vineyard that previously served „only“ as a blending partner – a statement wine that demonstrates the potential hidden in the often underestimated Auxerrois grape variety.