Cave de Hunawihr, Riesling Réserve

PL Award 1: Silver - SWA 2017

Country: France  Region: Alsace  Vintage: 2022 

Category: White Wine  Color:  White

Producer: Cave de Hunawihr

Hunawihr was founded in 1954. Today, Hunawihr is equipped with a renovated winery, 110 members and 200 hectares of vineyards. Eighty percent of the vineyards are situated in Hunawihr and its surroundings, Riquewihr and Zellenberg. The Grand Cru holdings amount to 13 hectares and include Rosacker, Froehn, Sporen, Schoenenbourg and Osterberg. The wines are fresh, clean, dry and aromatic, with good balancing acidity. Of Rosacker's 26 hectares in total, Hunawihr owns 11 hectares, of which 60% of this is Riesling planted on clay and limestone soils. The Grand Cru Riesling Rosacker is Hunawihr's flagship wine. It is versatile, with the ability to age and develop, as well as being a delight to drink now.

Winemaker: Nicolas Garde

Vineyards:

Sheltered from oceanic influence by the Vosges Mountains, the Alsace wine region has a semi-continental climate which stays sunny and dry throughout the growing season, and this lengthens the ripening period for the grapes. The slopes surrounding Hunawihr, a picturesque village of half-timbered houses and a 14th century church, are some of the most celebrated in Alsace for grape-growing. Cave de Hunawihr’s fruit is sourced from 25 year-old vines grown in vineyards running along the south and south-east facing hillside slopes around the village, at an altitude of 250-320 metres. The vineyards cover an area of 36 hectares, located on a geological fault line across Ribeauvillé which gives soils composed of clayey limestone marl and chalky gravels.

Vinification:

Nicolas Garde selected each parcel individually to ensure the best quality for this Réserve wine. The temperature controlled fermentation took place at around 17°C for three weeks with local Alsace yeasts. The wine was then aged on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for three months before careful filtration. No malolactic fermentation was allowed to take place.

Tasting Notes:

A shiny and elegant straw yellow with delicate silver tint. The nose has a nice complexity and aromas of citrus, pear and white flowers. A lively attack on the palate, typical for this fresh vintage, follows with strong citrus flavours. A long-lasting wine, with a refreshing finish.

Food Suggestion: Match with spicy Asian cuisine, especially seafood.

Closure: Stelvin  ABV:12.5%