Pinot Gris Heimbourg Sélection de Grains Nobles 2008

Wine Description for Pinot Gris Heimbourg Sélection de Grains Nobles 2008 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Deep, luminous amber – the colour alone speaks of concentration, botrytis and mature grandeur. A wine that whispers promising stories even in the glass.

Nose

The nose is of breathtaking intensity and density: bitter orange marmalade, candied orange peel and dried mango meld with the warm spice of walnuts, galangal and roasted almonds. These are joined by fresh ginger and the velvety softness of ripe vineyard peaches. Compact, opulent and of bell-clear precision – an aromatic profile of rare perfection.

Palate

On the palate, a fascinating tension unfolds: the intense, luscious sweetness is held in check by a vibrant, almost cutting acidity and pronounced saline minerality. Not a gram of sugar too much, not a drop of acidity too little. Freshness and elegance reign – a noble sweet wine that, despite its opulence, never feels heavy, but rather captivates with balletic lightness.

Finish

Long, saline-mineral and persistent. The sweetness fades, the minerality and a hint of candied orange linger and invite the next sip. A finish that is measured in minutes, not seconds.

Terroir & Origin

The Heimbourg in Turckheim is a nine-hectare single vineyard site, of which Zind-Humbrecht manages half. The Pinot Gris is planted in the uppermost, steepest and wind-exposed section – sparse, limestone-rich, with barely any topsoil. Harsh conditions that favour late, healthy ripening and give the grapes time to develop maximum complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Made from Pinot Gris vinified as Sélection de Grains Nobles – Alsace’s noblest category. In 2008, healthy grapes were first harvested for a drier style; ten days later came the berries affected by Botrytis cinerea with high acidity and concentrated sweetness. The result: a wine of extraordinary depth at moderate 9.5% vol. alcohol.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with game pâté with foie gras and walnut-apricot salad, with opulent fig tart with honey and brittle ice cream or – bold and wonderful – with Munster cheese in puff pastry with white truffle.

Special Characteristics

A wine for eternity. With its fantastic ageing potential over decades, this SGN is not a wine for quick consumption, but a work of art that rewards patience. Zind-Humbrecht at absolute peak.