Riesling Roche Granitique 2018

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

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, dense golden yellow with delicate lightening towards the rim – a wine that already promises substance and maturity on the eye.

Nose

Provocatively intense and fresh at once. An entire basket of exotic delicacies unfolds: citrus, orange, lime, fresh pineapple, mango and passion fruit. These are joined by fresh ginger, lemongrass and a pronounced stony minerality, rounded off with a hint of liquid honey. Remarkably open and multi-layered.

Palate

The fruit explosion of the nose continues on the palate with impressive density. Fine fruit sweetness meets precise, perfectly integrated acidity – a balancing act executed masterfully. The fine tannins lend the wine a delicately bitter character and make it an ideal food companion despite its exotic fullness. Substantial, yet never heavy.

Finish

Long-lasting with a mineral aftertaste and fresh citrus note. The acidity remains present without dominating – a sign of excellent ageing potential.

Terroir & Origin

The „second wine“ from the legendary Grand Cru Brand, vinified from vines averaging 36 years old on the characteristic granite soils of Alsace. 2018 supplemented by a small proportion of young vines from the Sommerberg Grand Cru. The granite soils impart the wine’s distinctive stony minerality and tension.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Riesling, which in 2018, a perfect vintage year, came to completion quickly yet in a controlled manner. Very slow fermentation, finishing dry – a classic, dry Alsatian Riesling with 12.5% alcohol. Decanting recommended.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Scallops with orange and wakame salad, foie gras terrine with physalis and ginger, Jerusalem artichoke fries with salted lemon mayonnaise or Asian cuisine with ginger and lemongrass. The combination of exoticism, minerality and fine tannins makes it remarkably versatile.

Special Features

An accessible entry point into the world of Grand Cru Rieslings from Zind-Humbrecht. Already a pleasure to drink now, yet it holds good development potential for the years to come. Large glasses are essential.