Gewürztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 2021

Wine Description for Gewürztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 2021 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, intense golden yellow with brilliant clarity – a visual promise of the concentration this wine unfolds on the palate.

Nose

Here Gewürztraminer reveals its more elegant, restrained side. Rather than opulent rose petals, citrus, orange and orange zest dominate, accompanied by herbal grapefruit zest. Fascinating are the herbal nuances of rosemary, thyme and galangal, which lend the wine an almost Mediterranean spice. The minerality of the shell limestone subsoil runs through the entire aromatic spectrum and imparts impressive freshness to the wine.

Palate

A masterclass in balance. The saline minerality of the limestone terroir meets delicate, perfectly integrated residual sweetness and a fine tannin structure that gives the wine structure and grip – unusual for the variety, but here a hallmark of quality. The freshness is electrifying, the texture silky, the length remarkable. This is no heavy, perfumed Gewürztraminer, but a precise, mineral wine with depth and tension.

Finish

Long, fading with saline spice and lingering citrus notes and a fine herbal spice. Every sip demands the next.

Terroir & Origin

Clos Windsbuhl lies above Hunawihr at 300-350 m altitude, characterised by shell limestone from the Triassic period. The magnesium-rich, calcareous subsoil with minimal topsoil produces wines of extraordinary minerality and finesse. Proximity to the Vosges forest ensures late ripening and cool nights – ideal conditions for elegance rather than opulence.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Old Gewürztraminer vines that have proven since 1987 that this variety can achieve greatness on cool limestone soils. The 2021 vintage brought only tiny yields due to spring frost – which further increased concentration.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Sea bass on lemongrass, stuffed lamb breast with saffron and couscous, chicory and grapefruit salad with glazed goat’s cheese. The saline minerality makes it the ideal companion to spicy, aromatic cuisine.

Special Characteristics

A Gewürztraminer that defies all clichés: elegant rather than heavy, mineral rather than perfumed, structured rather than one-dimensional. Already magnificent now, it will gain further complexity in the coming years. Decanting recommended.