Riesling Estate 2012
Famille Hugel
Famille Hugel’s Riesling “Estate” is a new selection “parcellaire” of carefully chosen plots of the estate situated in the most prestigious crus of Riquewihr. Most of the plots chosen for this new wine are being converted into Organic viticulture. The unique marl soils of Riquewihr, in and around the Schoenenbourg give a characteristic minerality to wines from this remarkable terroir. A wine of depth and of patience.
Vinification: 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 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 in the cellars until released for sale. The entire production of this wine is closed with DIAM the cork without the risk of cork taint.
From The Wine Advocate “The Estate range is a new creation for Riesling and Gewurztraminer grown in selected, family-owned plots in Riquewihr’s top sites. The Riesling comes from the marl soils of the area around Schoenenbourg, the Gewurztraminer from the clay soils of the Sporen where the family owns eight hectares. Both Riesling and Gewurztraminer represent 40% each of the family’s vineyards, which adds up to 30 hectares.”
Additional Information
“Riesling is the Pinot Noir of white wines! It is our most demanding variety as it is also the latest ripening. Dry and elegant, it expresses itself best on our steepest slopes with the most complex minerality.” -Etienne Hugel
Technical Details
- Appellation: Alsace
- Winemaker: Marc Hugel
- Sustainability: Organic Practices
- Soil: Clay, Limestone
- Avg Vine Age: 30+ years
- Yield: 52 hl/ha
- Alcohol: 12.5%
- Ttl Acidity: 7.4 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 5.1 g/l
- Sizes Available: 750ml
- Pack Size: 12/750ml
- Varietals: 100% Riesling
Recent Press
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Score: 90 Points
JamesSuckling.com Author: James Suckling
Date: Friday, November 18, 2016In contrast to the Classic this is still quite closed, due to the influence of the clay-rich Keuper marl soil of the Schoenenbourg. Dominant aromas of candied lemon peel and grapefruit. On the palate it has a lot more weight and volume compared to the Classic, and those citrus notes come through again at the long finish. Still needs time. 100% estate-grown fruit and more than 50% of that is from the Grand Cru Schoenebourg. -
Score: 93 Points
Wine Enthusiast Author: Anne Krebiehl
Date: Friday, October 21, 2016Slight smoke mixes in the nose of this wine, with lifted mandarin-peel notes. The dry palate is streamlined and has uncommon lightness. It's weightless but concentrated, with full and bright citrus lift and a lively core brimming with lemon, bergamot and lime. the finish is wonderfully clean. This will drink well through 2024, at least.
