Since 1620 the Humbrecht family has passed from father to son the culture of growing the vineyard on the vast terroirs of Alsace.
Léonard Humbrecht will quickly adapt the fundamental principles of wine making: the use of big tuns, natural yeast and manual wine gathering… But the choice between the industrial and high-quality production shall be made with ease by domaine Zind Humbrecht.

In 1989 Olivier Humbrecht and his wife Margareth arrive. It was some sort of a new beginning for the domaine.
They decide to abandon Wintzenheim and move to Turckheim in 1992 where they build the state-of-the-art winery.

In their continuous search of high quality, the domaine obtains BIO certificate in 1998 and it’s exactly at that moment that they start to apply biodynamics.
But it doesn’t begin and end there, they get back to animal traction to preserve the soils and respect ancestral traditions in order to produce the outstanding-quality wine.
The wine selection is vast and the differences can be noticed from one village to another: we find a rather volcanic terroir in Thann, a granite one in Turckheim, a clay-limestone one in Hunawihr, or even a gypsum one for Clos Jebsal, et cetera…

Domaine Zind Humbrecht is now turning towards less concentrated wines in order to head to more harmonious nectars of incomparable quality!
Domaine Zind Humbrecht is on the list of must-visit vineyards of Alsace region!

L’article Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Alsace est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet, Grand Cru, from the Leflaive domain is a beautiful lot of 3,7 acres (the largest of the 8,6 acres, that represent the label) positioned just underneath the Bâtard and against les Pucelles. This gently slopping environment composed of a calcareous soil, of a brown, almost black color, these soils being heavy next to the surface, clearly mark the wines with their aromatic generosity and powerful body, allowing them to be perfectly well kept long periods. Doubtlessly, it’s not the best grand cru in Puligny, suffering the comparison with the Chevallier, much more elegant and fine and the Bâtard, the latter possessing even more energy and aromatic profile. But the mellow texture and it’s volume in the mouth makes for an accessible and refined vintage ideally suited when accompanying fresh water fish or lobster. It compares as far as style is concerned to the middle section of the Charmes de Meursault. (source: Patrick Essa) 2010 is a great Burgundy vintage, marked by their classical style and small yields. The general profile of the 2010 whites is close to the 2008 vintage, with wines combining an excellent maturity, offering fruitiness and a beautiful acidity, offering length and precision. The nuances with respect to her elders, comes from a more accomplished maturity and a slightly less marked acidity, offering more precocious wines, hence being of easier access in their youth, with a promise of a magnificent maturation. It’s more a “terroir” wine rather than a vintage wine, the 2010 will delight all those Burgundy lovers, marked by the uniqueness of each environment. The only downside to this picture is the average drop in production, 40% with regards to the preceding year. The wines from the domain are certified as being issued from biodynamic agriculture since 1998.

L’article Domaine Leflaive – Bienvenue Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2010 est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

In certain wine regions one can see roses planted at the head of vine rows. They will be able to alert the wine grower on an illness known as loïdium caused by a similar mushroom and as destructive as mildew. Being much more sensitive than the vine, the rose plant will be the first one to get the disease. Hence the wine-grower will be alerted to the attack on his vines, and will be able to take the appropriate measures before these are being attacked!
 In the olden days it was said that they signaled the plow horse the end of a row of vines allowing for a larger space for the turn. This permitted the horse to avoid ripping a peg or a vine. The rose plant had two functions, that of joining the beautiful to the useful.

L’article Why are there roses at the head of the rows of vines? est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Clos de la Maréchale is more than symbolic for Frédéric Mugnier since it has been left on a lease for 53 years. Le Clos de la Maréchale is the largest monopoly in the Côte-d’Or. This wine is fair and well structured inflexible. The Musigny Grand Cru situated on the plot known as the « Grand-Musigny », it’s a land plot of 3,8 acres. The wine is suave, well rounded off, with exceptionally powerful. This Grand crus is sublime, fine and light, elegant and airy with a marvelous harmony of its aromas and structure. The Chambolle-Musigny « Les Amoureuses » is one of the most searched for, a head of cuvee, that has been instrumental to the Domain Munier’s renown. These premier crus are totally atypical and absolutely incomparable. 
 The « Bonnes Mares » Grand Cru is much too scarce: under an acre for a production of only 900 to 1500 bottles per year, when all goes well.

In conclusion, we can say that these wines built on their finesse and distinction, have an absolute grace, all in subtlety and wonderful aromas, playing with the structure and the intensity. These wines illustrate magnificently the terroir and are amidst the greatest representatives of the Burgundy region.

L’article Domain Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

Late harvest wines are cut out to be aged, even for very long periods for patient wine lovers!
The 3 exceptional vintages of the century for the late harvest Pinot Gris are, 1945, 1959 and 1983. Closer to our times, the 2010 vintage will be excellent, moreover, it is a small harvest.
The preceding very good vintages are, 2005, 1999, 1994 and 1989, to be enjoyed now since they have reached maturity.

L’article Late Harvest est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.