The Gewurztraminer Classic 2019 from Famille Hugel is a dry white wine from Alsace, made from the Gewurztraminer grape variety. With a pale yellow to golden color, it gives off intense and exotic aromas of lychee, rose, spices and tropical fruits, typical of this grape variety. On the palate, it is full-bodied, generous and elegant, with a beautiful richness and balanced acidity. Its finish is persistent, offering a pleasant sensation of freshness. This wine goes perfectly with spicy dishes, mature cheeses and fruit desserts.
| VINEYARD |
Alsace |
| WINE REGION |
Alsace |
| YEAR |
2019 |
| VITICULTURE |
Reasoned |
| DOMAIN |
Hugel family |
| NAME |
Alsace Gewurztraminer |
| COLOR |
White |
| ALCOHOL DEGREES |
14.5% vol. |
| GRAPE VARIETY |
Gewurztraminer 100% |
The Estate
The Hugel Family Estate is located in the Alsace wine region of France, where it has enjoyed a prestigious reputation for several generations. Founded in 1639, the Hugel family has preserved and developed its ancestral know-how in vine cultivation and winemaking.
The estate owns vineyards in privileged areas around Riquewihr and south of Colmar, where the clay soils provide ideal conditions for growing noble Alsatian grape varieties such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat.
The vines are cultivated with care and respect for the environment, according to traditional and sustainable practices. The harvest is done exclusively by hand, in small containers, in order to guarantee the integrity of the grapes until they reach the press.
In the winery, the grapes are vinified with precision, using modern techniques and a respectful approach to the fruit. The musts are conveyed by gravity to pneumatic presses, without any aggressive handling. Fermentation takes place under controlled conditions, allowing the wines to fully express their terroir and unique character.
After fermentation, the wines are carefully aged in tuns or vats, then bottled the following spring. The Hugel family places great importance on the quality of the aging and the preservation of the natural aromas of the wines.
The estate produces a wide range of wines, from dry wines to sweet and liqueur wines, including sparkling wines. Each vintage reflects the Hugel Family's expertise and passion for the art of viticulture and winemaking in Alsace.
The year 2019 in Alsace was once again characterized by extreme weather conditions. First, an exceptionally mild winter, without a single day below zero, followed by a stable early spring, also mild but with cool nights, marked by the budburst of the vines on March 23. Until May 15, the growth of the vines was only 3 to 5 cm, with several nights when the mercury flirted with negative, without causing any damage. The rainy month of June turned out to be a blessing, but was followed by periods of drought and two heat waves, on June 25 and July 23, quickly followed by two good stormy showers on July 27 and 28. The rest of the summer was idyllic, sunny, with cool nights, ideal for starting the harvest on September 18.
Yields are low in 2019 and the Hugel Family has not produced any botrytis wines. However, all the dry wines will be of high quality; the 2019 vintage will rank among the top three of the decade.
The terroir
As for the vines, the vintage is fully expressed in the most clayey terroirs around Riquewihr and south of Colmar. The grapes, with very thick skin, are exclusively harvested by hand in small containers in order to arrive intact at the press.
As for the vinification, the grapes are conveyed into pneumatic presses by gravity, without the use of pumping or other manipulations. After a static settling of a few hours, the musts are transferred to tuns or vats for controlled fermentation at temperatures of 22 to 24°C. There is only one racking operation before winter, where the wine clarifies naturally without artificial cold treatment. A light gentle filtration is carried out before bottling in the spring, followed by aging in the bottle in the cellars of the Hugel Family until its marketing. The vintage is entirely corked with DIAM corks, guaranteeing the absence of cork taint.
The grape variety
Gewurztraminer is renowned for producing aromatic and expressive white wines.
Gewurztraminer is characterized by its intense and exotic aromas, with floral notes of rose and jasmine that mingle with aromas of stone fruits such as peach and mirabelle plum. There are also nuances of exotic fruits such as lychee, mango and dragon fruit, which add a tropical and seductive dimension to the wine.
On the palate, wines made from the Gewurztraminer grape are often rich and opulent, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. The palate is typically dominated by flavors of ripe fruit and spices, with a slight touch of sweetness that balances the whole perfectly.
Gewurztraminer is a grape variety with a strong personality, which lends itself well to dry or sweet winemaking. In the case of Gewurztraminer - Classic 2019 from Famille Hugel, we can expect a charming, balanced and characterful wine, faithful to the typical expression of this emblematic grape variety of Alsace.
The wine
The brilliance of its dress and the abundant tears foreshadow the richness of this wine from the first glance, while on the nose, we discover subtle floral aromas of rose and jasmine that blend harmoniously with stone fruits such as peach and mirabelle plum, as well as exotic fruits such as lychee, mango and dragon fruit. This bouquet is expressed with elegance and subtlety, in the characteristic style of Hugel.
On the palate, its delicate and velvety texture invites you on a real journey and pairs perfectly with dishes with character. Its precise finish could even delight those who hesitate to fully appreciate this grape variety with its strong personality.
Dare to try wine in half bottles!
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