Zind Humbrecht 2009 Pinot Gris:
Unctuous, Delicious Perfection

It’s no secret that I’m an Alsace lover. I’ve written about it regularly and I never have a disparaging word. These were the wines, after all, that got me into wine. I am forever grateful to this sliver of sun drenched land nestled in the Vosges Mountains. In this sunny wine paradise, whites like Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc flourish and make oily, unctuous, delicious wines that are huge value for the price.

Horse_GreenDomaine Zind Humbrecht, with it’s biodynamic agriculture and estate-only bottlings, produces consistently full, rich, fruity whites that are like pouring velvet down your throat! The Domaine has only been around since 1959, but the family has been growing wine grapes since the 1600s, so they get viticulture. As part of their commitment to the vineyards, they only work the vineyards using hand labor or horse-drawn tractors (Picture, right sourced from Kobrand Wine & Spirits). It’s a lot of work, and it shows.

Pinot Gris in Alsace can be the fullest flavored, spiciest, most layered white wine in the world when made well. This fits the bill. The ’09 vintage was sunny and beautiful in Alsace and Pinot Gris was especially good in this year.

Before I get to the review, I want to point out one great feature of Zind Humbrecht’s wines: They feature a sweetness scale on the bottle so you don’t have to guess at what you’re going to get. Printed on the front label, under the alcohol level is the word “Indice” with a number. 1 is absolutely dry, 2 has some sugar, 5 is a sweet, late harvest wine (dessert). Given that many producers in Alsace sneak in sugar these days, this is a great feature of these wines and makes them high on the list for Alsace delights.

The Wine: 2009 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris, Alsace, France

Price: $18.99
Grapes: 100% Pinot Gris
Alcohol: 14%

Color: Pinot Gris is a pink skinned grape, so sometimes you’ll see a tinge of color in the wine. This was a brass yellow, but pinkish with orange highlights — it almost looked like natural ginger ale.

Smell: Not much to say here. It wasn’t very aromatic — honeysuckle and some petrol notes too, typical of Alsace whites.

Taste: This is where things get good. Whatever the wine lacks in aroma, it makes up for in taste. Honey, honeysuckle, petrol, orange marmalade, tangerine, orange sherbet/creamsicle, mineral, and white flowers were evident after a sip or seven! I couldn’t put this down. The texture was waxy and full bodied but the medium level of mouth cleansing acid kept it fresh. The finish was smooth, full, rich, and a little herbal — like fresh green herbs.

Drink or Sink?: DRINK! Unbelievable. This is white wine heaven. Get this vintage before it goes away. An absolutely divine wine.

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2009
Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris,
Alsace, France