Riesling Estate 2014
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
A new selection “parcellaire” of carefully chosen plots of the Famille Hugel estate situated in Riquewihr in its most prestigious crus. 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.
Exceptionally mild winter, with practically no frost. Very early budburst around 21 March led to 2 months of anxiety but finally no spring frost. Flowering began very early, around 30 May, which usually means an extremely precocious harvest like 2003, but was uneven and spread over 2 weeks, giving a little coulure especially on Gewurztraminer. In July and early August, record rainfall (147mm) and cool temperatures finally delayed maturity. A very dry September (27mm) without excessive heat ensured slow maturation under ideal conditions. Harvest began on 16 September and ended on 16 October. Yields were very low, lower even than 2013 or 2010. Perfectly healthy grapes, high acidity and superb maturity mean 2014 will be a hallmark vintage, especially for Riesling. Very small yield of late harvest Gewurztraminer VT.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Alsace
- Winemaker: Marc Hugel
- Sustainability: Organic Practices
- Soil: Clay, Limestone
- Avg Vine Age: 30+ years
- Yield: 52 hl/ha
- Alcohol: 13%
- 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
Wine Spectator Online Author: Alison Napjus
Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2019"Fresh and minerally, this well-balanced, light-bodied white offers flavors of apricot, lemon thyme, beeswax and smoke. Mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024. 1,000 cases made." -
Score: 93 Points
Wine Enthusiast Author: Anne Krebiehl
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2018"The nose is rather closed but gives faint notions of waxy honeycomb. The palate is alive with lemon freshness to counter that textural waxiness that creates the backdrop of the palate. This wine has concentation and impact with its lemony power despite the relative slenderness of the body. The finish is dry, long and vivid." -
Score: 93 Points
JamesSuckling.com Author: James Suckling
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018"Has some of the earthy power and complexity of a grand cru. An excellent balance of white-fruit character with robust minerality and crisp acidity, driving the imposing finish. Drink or hold." -
Score: 92 Points
Vinous Author: Ian D'Agata
Date: Sunday, April 1, 2018"Bright straw-green. Very deep, enticing aromas and flavors of yellow apple, chamomile, licorice, minerals and lime. Chewy and concentrated, this is a real step up in intensity and depth from Hugel’s 2015 Classic Riesling. Finishes long and very bright, with hints of lemon verbena and jasmine lingering nicely. All estate-grown grapes, mainly from young vines of the grands crus or the more vigorous vines growing on the lower-lying sections of those slopes. About 15,000-20,000 bottles a year."
