Domaine Zind-Humbrecht : Riesling "Roche Calcaire" 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Riesling "Roche Calcaire" 2024 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Tasting

Colour
This white wine reveals a beautiful, luminous colour.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with intense mineral notes reminiscent of wet stone, accompanied by subtle smoky and earthy touches. It then reveals fresh fruit aromas such as peach and apricot, enhanced by floral nuances of honeysuckle and citrus blossom.

Palate
The palate stands out for its precision and energy. It offers vibrant flavours of citrus zest, lime and stone fruit. Supported by a refined and incisive acidity, the finish is persistent, saline and profoundly mineral.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs wonderfully with raw fish dishes such as ceviche or sushi, as well as with meatier fish like salmon or tuna. It also perfectly accompanies seafood, spicy Asian dishes, light poultry, vegetables such as asparagus, or cheeses like fresh goat cheese and aged Comté.

Other characteristics

This wine stands out for its perfectly dry profile, with no residual sugar, corresponding to the lowest sweetness index established by the estate. It has a moderate alcohol level.

The pure and mineral expression of an Alsace Riesling

The estate

Born in 1959 from the union of two winemaking families, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is an iconic name in Alsace, France. Spanning around forty hectares divided into more than a hundred plots, the estate is now run by Olivier Humbrecht. A fervent advocate of biodynamics, he converted the entire vineyard to this practice as early as 1999. The estate is distinguished by its commitment to faithfully expressing the complexity of its terroirs through controlled yields and parcel-by-parcel vinification, resulting in wines of great authenticity.

The vineyard

Located around the village of Gueberschwihr in Alsace, the vines destined for this cuvée were planted in the 1960s and 1970s. They thrive on deep soils of young oolitic limestone. These terroirs, which warm slowly in spring, extend the plant's growing cycle. Facing south and east, this vineyard is cultivated according to biodynamic principles, with rigorous manual work, the use of organic compost and strict yield limitation to favour mineral expression.

The vintage

The year 2024 was marked by particularly difficult climatic conditions, with excessive rainfall. May in particular recorded rainfall four times above average, leading to significant pressure from fungal diseases. These weather challenges required intensive and meticulous manual work in the vineyards throughout the season to preserve the health of the grapes.

Winemaking and aging

For the Riesling "Roche Calcaire" 2024, the grapes are harvested by hand, late in the season. After destemming and pressing, the musts ferment thanks to naturally present indigenous yeasts. This fermentation extends over a long period, often exceeding twelve months. The wine then benefits from prolonged aging on full lees in large traditional oak foudres, which gives it its texture and complexity without marking the aromatic profile with wood.

Grape variety

100% Riesling