Pinot Gris Rotenberg Sélection de Grains Nobles 2008 375ml

Wine description for Pinot Gris Rotenberg Sélection de Grains Nobles 2008 375ml from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Luminous amber with seductive orange reflections – a visual harbinger of the concentrated sweetness awaiting in the glass.

Nose

An aromatic explosion: honeycomb, butterscotch and rusk meld with roasted nuts, burnt almonds and dried apricots. These are joined by spicy notes of Aachener Printen – an abundance of aromas that practically erupts from the glass.

Palate

Opulently sweet, yet never cumbersome. The lush residual sweetness is masterfully balanced by the crystalline acidity of the cool 2008 vintage and the mineral precision of the Rotenberg terroir. At just 8% alcohol, it displays remarkable elegance – concentration without heaviness, sweetness without obtrusiveness.

Finish

Long, nutty and suffused with a fine botrytis spice. The minerality carries the aromas far beyond the sip.

Terroir & Origin

The Rotenberg is one of Zind-Humbrecht’s flagship vineyard sites – a limestone soil that imparts structure and tension even to the most opulent noble sweet wines. The biodynamic viticulture of the Domaine is evident in the vibrant liveliness of this wine.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pinot Gris in its most concentrated form: Sélection de Grains Nobles means that only individually shrivelled berries affected by Botrytis cinerea were harvested. A labour-intensive process that succeeds only in exceptional vintages such as 2008.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Excellent as a contemplative aperitif after dinner. Classically paired with pheasant confit with quinces and nuts, hazelnut brioche with pickled figs and Stilton or carrot cake with hazelnut cream. The nutty components in these dishes perfectly mirror the roasted aromas of the wine.

Special Features

A wine for patience and meditation. The 375ml bottle is ideally portioned for a special moment shared between two. The 2008 vintage is considered excellent in Alsace for noble sweet wines – cool enough for acidity, sunny enough for botrytis development.