Gewurztraminer Grossi Laue 2011
Famille Hugel
Grossi Laüe signifies the finest vineyards in Alsace dialect and represents an equivalent to the German Grosses Gewächs or the Burgundian Grand Cru.
Terroir: Produced in a selection of the oldest plots of the Hugel estate in the heart of the grand cru Sporen made up of Lias clay-marl, decalcified on the surface, exceptionally rich in phosphoric acid.
Vinification: The grapes are taken in small tubs to the presses, which are filled by gravity, without any pumping or other mechanical intervention. After pressing, the must is decanted for a few hours, then fermented in temperature-controlled barrels or vats (at 18 to 24°C). The wine is racked just once, before natural clarification during the course of the winter. The following spring, the wine is lightly filtered just before bottling, and the bottles are then aged extensively in the cellars until released for sale. The whole production of this wine is closed with DIAM the cork without the risk of cork taint.
From The Wine Advocate “Starting with the 2010 vintage, the Grossi Laüe range succeeds the Jubilee line, which was introduced to celebrate the family’s 350th anniversary in 1989, with the finest dry Hugel wines made from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.
Grossi Laüe (Grosse Lage in German) signifies the finest vineyards in Alsace dialect and represents an equivalent to the German Grosses Gewächs or the Burgundian Grand Cru. It is the first time since the Second World War that Hugel uses Alemannic terms like Grossi Laüe or Schoelhammer on the label. Etienne Hugel points out: “After Réserve Exceptionnelle in the 1930s, Réserve Personnelle in the 1960s and the 20 years of Jubilee, Schoelhammer and Grossi Laüe mark a veritable return to the timeless cultural values of our family, deeply anchored in our historic vineyard terroirs. We have finally left the denial of everything what’s Alemannic behind us. It’s time to speak Alsace dialect now.””
Additional Information
“Harsh winter of 2011 with 26 days below zero. Early budding on April 7, May warm and dry and flowering 15 days ahead of time. Summer cool, damp and gloomy. Return to idyllic weather two weeks before harvest started on September 12, without any precipitation from beginning to end.
Excellent maturity in a fair size crop with soft acidity. Wines already charming, easy to approach and early to drink soon after bottling.” -Jean-Frederic Hugel
Great classic Gewurztraminer which will gain in complexity and spiciness for 8 years or more. Its suave and long complex aftertaste will make it the ideal partner to strong cheeses and spicy dishes.
The spice of Alsace and one of Famille Hugel’s signature wines. It is both aromatic and extroverted through its floral and spicy notes. Gewurztraminer is an invitation to accompany a variety of spicy Asian dishes as well as smoked salmon and strong cheeses.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Alsace
- Winemaker: Marc Hugel
- Sustainability: Organic Practices
- Soil: Lias clay-marl
- Avg Vine Age: 30 years
- Yield: 45 hl/ha
- Alcohol: 14.8%
- Ttl Acidity: 4.42 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 20 g/l
- Sizes Available: 750ml, 375ml
- Pack Size: 6/750ml
- Varietals: 100% Gewurztraminer
Recent Press
-
Score: 90 Points
Wine Spectator Online Author: Alison Napjus
Date: Saturday, January 19, 2019"Pretty apple, melon and floral notes are underscored by minerally stone and smoke accents in this creamy, balanced white. Hints of candied pink grapefruit zest and spice echo on the finish. Elegant. Drink now through 2023. 1,700 cases made." -
Score: 93 Points
The Wine Advocate Author: Stephan Reinhardt
Date: Friday, January 19, 2018The 2011 Gewurztraminer Grossi Lae is a 100% Sporen (deep clay soils) and opens with a clear, cool and spicy bouquet with very clear and elegant fruit aromas. Full-bodied, rich and very elegant on the palate, this is a lush and concentrated, pretty sweet cru with a long and spicy, fresh and tension-filled, mineral finish. Bottled with 14.8 alcohol and 19 grams of residual sugar. -
Score: 94 Points
Wine Enthusiast Author: Anne Krebiehl
Date: Friday, October 27, 2017A very lifted touch of fir honey hits the nose first before ripe peach with the merest touch of vanilla follow. The palate is incisive and concentrated. Alcoholic heat fires up the mellow, rich and rounded palate that brims with peachy fruit and flavor while zesty lemon oil hints illuminate and brighten the richness. This seems to have only just started on its trajectory. It is ready to drink but it will evolve much further, becoming ever more itself. The finish is just off dry and very long with lemon zest and peach. Drink 20172037. -
Score: 94 Points
JamesSuckling.com Author: James Suckling
Date: Friday, October 20, 2017Dry and powerful style with burning spice and hot stone character as well as dried apple, pineapple and cloves. Full body, lots of fruit and depth. Very long and flavorful. Full throttle. Beautiful aged white. Drink now. -
Vinous Author: Ian D'Agata
Date: Friday, October 20, 2017Bright golden yellow. Knockout nose offers explosively rich aromas of candied mango, crystallized papaya, smoked meat, sweet spices and nutmeg. Big, rich and fat, yet with bright, tangy flavors of yellow tropical fruits complicated by underlying minerality and sweet spices. Structured, focused and very long, this is an extremely impressive and powerful gewurztraminer from a great year for the variety. Taste this blind and you can't help but guess Sporen, although Marc Hugel noted that it's not always made from 100% Sporen grapes. "It depends on the vintage," he said. "In great years like 2005 and 2007 that produce a lot of late-harvest wines, the Jubilee is made from other parcels that do not normally give grapes used for late-harvest wines."Grade: 93+ Points
