2016 Gewurztraminer Hengst

From red marl limestone soils, the 2016 Alsace Grand Cru Hengst Gewurztraminer opens with a very clear, intense and spicy-mineral bouquet that is very well-defined and fresh. On the palate, this is a rich, oily, concentrated, tannic and powerful Gewurtz with a long and aromatic finish. The wine is stunningly fresh and very tight. A long-distance runner for sure. Tasted June 2018. This wine comes from two very old vineyards located in the middle of the grand cru, both planted with old massal selections that produce beautiful Gewurztraminer, more dark orange than purple, the ugly color of the modern clones…. Hengst is in a warm, dry, precocious microclimate, facing southeast and an average to steep slope. The red marl limestone soil brings great structure to the wines, interesting tannins that are always perfectly ripe. The Hengst is ripe early, but because it has the capacity to keep the grapes healthy for a long time, it can be harvested quite late. Understanding Gewurztraminer is tricky, and I would say that this grape is, in fact, a red wine that is sweet and looks like a white wine! Just like for a red wine, it is the phenolic and skin ripeness that matters the most for such wines. In 2015, the Hengst delivered an absolute classic wine.