Vintage

The 2017 vintage will go down in the history of this wine estate. For Olivier Humbrecht, it is one of the three best vintages since the foundation of the wine estate in 1959. However, this time frost and hail limited the yield to less than 20 hl/ha on average. After an early budbreak, two cold spells with sub-zero temperatures on April 21 and 22 exposed even those areas that were more sheltered to frost. An unusually freezing easterly wind froze vines in vineyards like the Herrenweg de Turckheim, which never froze to death in the 60 years Olivier's father has been involved. A hailstorm in the Brand vineyard fortunately remained without major consequences. Midsummer was hot, August milder, and the harvest started on August 29 with Pinot Gris Roche Roulée, followed by terroirs like Rotenberg, Heimbourg, Goldert ... A little rain on September 2 accelerated the ripening. The Rieslings were harvested from 11 September and the harvest finished with Rangen, Hengst and Clos Jebsal on 26 September. Only in Clos Jebsal were there minor signs of botrytis.

Wine

The earnings of the Spice Traminers Roche Roulée in the flatter sites of Turckheim was just 6 hl/ha in 2017. This is far less than the Sélection de Grains Nobles. So, on seven hectares of vineyards, only 42 hectoliters in total were harvested - by the way, an ordeal for the pickers. The site of the Turckheimer Herrenweg and the neighboring vineyards is usually not endangered by frost, despite its flat location. Unfortunately, however, in April 2017 the winds blew up the valley, a rare phenomenon, and most of the early budding Traminer erfor. To make matters worse, the sun came up after the frost and warmed the young shoots too quickly, adding to the cold shock.

Fermentation

The fermentation, on the other hand, was fast and the yeasts did not give the sugar in the grapes a chance. Thus, only 1.6 g of sugar remain with an acid value of 2.6 g and a pH value of 3.8.

intense straw yellow

Despite, or perhaps even because of, the extreme circumstances, this 2017 Gewurztraminer Roche Roulée Already in the fragrance a beautiful and exceptionally clear wine. It shows white fruit with apples, pears and vineyard peach. In addition, the typical aromas of lychee and rose, but also other flowers that remind of acacia, white lilac and lily of the valley as well as hops. The wine is intensely spicy but bright.

This seasoning carries the Roche Roulée Of course, also to the palate, where apart from the spices above all the intensive juiciness inspires. In addition to the white fruit, citrus fruits, some persimmon and melon, tobacco and licorice show up as well as some spicy notes in the finish. The wine is carried by a remarkably dense tannin structure, which fits very well to the dry appearance of the wine.