Riesling Roche Granitique 2018

Wine description for Riesling Roche Granitique 2018 by Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & appearance

Luminous golden yellow, dense and profound, with subtle lightening towards the rim – a wine that promises substance even in its appearance.

Nose

A basket brimming with exotic delights: citrus, orange and lime meet fresh pineapple, mango and passion fruit. These are joined by fresh ginger, lemongrass and a pronounced stony vein, evoking warm granite after a summer rain. A touch of liquid honey completes the picture. Open, intense and inviting.

Palate

The fruit unfolds with density and fine fruity sweetness, carried by a precise acidity that is beautifully integrated into the exotic richness. A fine tannic structure lends a delicately bitter edge and texture – making it an exquisite food companion. Despite its open character, it possesses excellent ageing potential for the years ahead.

Finish

Long and distinctly stony, with persistent fruit and that slight phenolic note which distinguishes great Rieslings from poor soils.

Terroir & origin

The vines are rooted in the granite soils of the Grand Cru Brand near Turckheim – a vineyard site renowned for its cool elegance and finely chiselled structure. In 2018, young vines from the Grand Cru Sommerberg were also included (less than ten per cent). Olivier Humbrecht, France’s first Master of Wine, has farmed the estate’s 42 hectares according to certified biodynamic principles since 2002 – an approach he describes as “therapy for the vines to forget stress”.

Grape variety & vinification

Riesling from vines averaging 36 years of age – the “second wine” of the Grand Cru Brand vineyard site, sourced from its younger vines. In 2018, the grapes ripened quickly to achieve perfect balance. Fermentation was slow but steady, finishing dry. As with all the estate’s wines, this cuvée was aged on the lees for at least six months – a luxury of patience that few producers can afford.

Food recommendations

The exotic fruit and fine tannins make this Riesling an ideal partner for scallops with orange and wakame salad, foie gras with physalis and ginger, or the earthy combination of Jerusalem artichoke chips with sauerkraut and carrots. Its delicate bitterness also stands up well to more highly spiced dishes.

Special characteristics

This wine demonstrates how granite unites spice and elegance – a lesson in Alsatian geology. Olivier Humbrecht’s biodynamic viticulture and the extended lees ageing bestow upon it a texture that makes patience its guiding principle. Decant and serve in large glasses.