Riesling Clos Häuserer 2018

Wine Description for Riesling Clos Häuserer 2018 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Radiant golden yellow in the glass – a colour that already announces the concentration and maturity of this extraordinary Riesling.

Nose

Initially closed, this wine needs air and patience. After decanting, a fascinating aromatic bouquet unfolds: limestone minerality meets dried linden flowers, chamomile and hay. As it opens further, dried apricot, fresh pineapple, vineyard peach and lychee emerge. Exotic spice notes of anise, cardamom and ginger lend the wine a seductive complexity.

Palate

Surprisingly elegant and fresh. The vibrant acidity is accompanied by delicate saline notes – a fingerprint of the chalky terroir. The fruit appears lighter than on the nose: pear, honeydew melon and citrus dominate. Despite 13% alcohol, the wine feels lean and precise, with a playful lightness that invites you to keep drinking.

Finish

Clear, mineral and lingering. The acidity carries the aromas long and leaves behind a fine saline freshness.

Terroir & Origin

Clos Häuserer is a small monopoly vineyard site of 1.198 hectares situated directly below the Grand Cru Hengst. The deep, chalky marl soil on Oligocene bedrock fundamentally shapes the character of this wine. The rich earth layer warms slowly and gives the wine, despite its early location, the characteristics of a late-ripening vineyard. The high free lime content explains the reductive profile in its youth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Riesling from the warm vintage 2018. High natural acidity, very slow fermentation – this wine was the last to complete fermentation in 2018. A sign of the complexity and ageing potential.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Prawn skewers with pomelo yoghurt sauce, pumpkin gnocchi with fresh rosemary or veal with candied orange slices. The wine’s freshness harmonises perfectly with dishes that themselves have a bright, lively character.

Special Characteristics

A wine that rewards patience. Definitely decant for several hours or – better still – enjoy it a few days after opening. The earliest vintages from the 1970s still show impressive vitality today. A Riesling for collectors with staying power.