Description
Domaine Zind Humbrecht, a family of winegrowers since 1620, works a mosaic of Alsace’s finest terroirs. Olivier Humbrecht, leading the way today, crafted this fine d’Alsace from three vintages of Pinot Noir distillate (from the steep Heimbourg vineyard) aged together in a single new oak barrel.
What’s this little creature on the front label? In French it’s called a verrou (or clef) de tonneau – basically a lock or key that fits over the oak vat opening that’s entered for cleaning. These vat decorations most often feature marine creatures, fish, dolphins, mermaids, etc. often linked to the mythology of the wine gods Bacchus and Dionysus. They used to be especially common in Alsace. The creature on the front label is one of several verrous de tonneaux from Domaine Zind Humbrecht.
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For the third edition, the amateur jury consisted of Dan Ohlemiller, Roger Caroni, and Roberto Bessa Snø.
This 1998-2002-2003 fine d’Alsace from Domaine Zind Humbrecht was selected by the jury for its aromatic intensity but tame, complex and balanced taste profile. Each jury member put his finger on a handful of different notes, but ultimately found the tasting experience to be a unique one. Roger, the jury’s rum guru, comments on the uniqueness of the smells given his rum background but that “it’s really really nice.” He picks up notes of honey, litchi and peach syrup, and nutmeg and appreciates that the spirit stays focused on the fruit and not the wood. Dan immediately comments on the “sharp and tangy” aromatics. He was spot on with the two decade age and enjoyed notes of orange oil, honey, and pepper. “It’s fun, I like this,” he comments. Roberto was the one to point a similarity to a Capovilla aged grappa he’s had in the past. He also pointed out that the “nose is aggressive but the taste isn’t. The taste is really good.” Complex, balanced, and unique were words that came up several times over the course of the selection.
The jurors agreed it was a truly surprising spirit, showing recognizable notes and flavors but ultimately a tasting experience that widened horizons. Lovers of basically any brown spirit will find something intriguing and satisfying with this one. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to taste the final cask of fine d’Alsace from the one and only Domaine Zind Humbrecht.
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Age: 21 years old minimum (1998-2002-2003)
ABV: 57% – natural color, no additives (sugar, color), no chill-filtration
Bottle size: 700ml
Tasting note
Nose: Robust and tangy. Grapes, mirabelle plums, butter, orange oil, litchi and peach syrup, nutmeg, honey. Intense aromatics
Mouth: Balanced and complex. Mellower than the nose would suggest. Ripe fruit, citrus, honey, spices, various fruit syrups. Nuts and some aged grappa notes
Finish: Long, lingering, slight bitterness, finishes on fruit syrups and spices
Please note: Amateur Spirit is a pre-buy bottling. The period of sale is open for 8 days, then closed. There is a maximum amount of bottles possible (what’s left in the barrel). Once the 8 days are over (maybe less if all the bottles are sold), the bottling starts at the domaine, the labels will be printed, the bottles will be labeled, and then shipped from France.
The Heimbourg Vineyard & Terroir
The Heimbourg vineyard, located in the commune of Turckheim, is a small but distinctive site known for its steep slopes (from 35% to 50%+ grades) and unique clay-limestone soils. Facing both west and south, the vineyard benefits from a mix of cooler, slower ripening areas and warmer, sun-drenched spots – completely free of any shade from the Vosges mountains to the west. This diverse microclimate allows for the growth of several grape varieties, including Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Pinot Noir. The combination of a clay-limestone subsoil and evening sunshine from the Munster valley ensures that the grapes retain excellent acidity and develop complex flavors, sometimes including noble rot – botrytis. Though the steep terrain made it less popular for cultivation in the past, Domaine Zind Humbrecht has brought the vineyard back since the early 1980s.
The wines from Heimbourg are rich, aromatic, and extroverted even at a young age, with a good balance of opulence and acidity. Pinot Noir – which this unique fine d’Alsace comes from exclusively – is planted at the foot of the slope to allow for longer ripening periods. Today, the portion of the vineyard planted to pinot noir is tiny, measuring only 0.3 hectares.
It is one of the domaine’s most treasured terroirs, making expressive wines and, of course, this stunning fine.
The Domaine & Biodynamics
Domaine Zind Humbrecht is one of Alsace’s (and France’s) most distinguished wine domaines, known as a pioneer in biodynamic viticulture and its dedication to showcasing the region’s diverse terroirs. The Humbrecht family, winegrowers since the 17th century, founded the estate in 1959. Today, it is led by Olivier Humbrecht, France’s first Master of Wine. With 42 hectares spread across notable Alsatian vineyards such as Rangen de Thann, Brand, Goldert, Hengst, Clos Windsbuhl, Clos Jebsal, Harrenweg, Rotenberg, and Heimbourg among several others, the domaine focuses on biodynamic farming and low-intervention winemaking to highlight the individuality of each plot and to let the harmony of each terroir shine. Since adopting biodynamics in 1997, Zind Humbrecht emphasizes sustainability, using manual vineyard work and natural compost to nurture their vines. This approach results in wines with exceptional depth, complexity, and aging potential.
And for the eaux-de-vie and marcs made at the estate, we know the one underlying rule: without a good wine there is no good distillate. And these are some of the best wines.