{"id":288,"date":"2024-09-23T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T12:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amateurspirit.com\/?post_type=product&p=288"},"modified":"2025-04-25T13:15:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T13:15:18","slug":"zind-humbrecht-fine-dalsace-1998-2002-2003","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/amateurspirit.com\/?product=zind-humbrecht-fine-dalsace-1998-2002-2003","title":{"rendered":"Zind Humbrecht Fine d’Alsace 98-02-03"},"content":{"rendered":"

Domaine Zind Humbrecht<\/b>, a family of winegrowers since 1620, works a mosaic of Alsace’s finest terroirs. <\/span>Olivier Humbrecht<\/b>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s this little creature on the front label? In French it\u2019s called a verrou (or clef) de tonneau – basically a lock or key that fits over the oak vat opening that\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sign up to our newsletter here<\/span><\/a>, don\u2019t miss our next Amateur Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the third edition, the amateur jury consisted of<\/span> Dan Ohlemiller<\/b>, <\/span>Roger Caroni<\/b>, and <\/span>Roberto Bessa Sn\u00f8<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>1998-2002-2003 fine d\u2019Alsace<\/b> from <\/span>Domaine Zind Humbrecht<\/b> 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\u2019s rum guru, comments on the uniqueness of the smells given his rum background but that \u201cit\u2019s really really nice.\u201d 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 \u201csharp and tangy\u201d aromatics. He was spot on with the two decade age and enjoyed notes of orange oil, honey, and pepper. \u201cIt\u2019s fun, I like this,\u201d he comments. Roberto was the one to point a similarity to a Capovilla aged grappa he\u2019s had in the past. He also pointed out that the \u201cnose is aggressive but the taste isn\u2019t. The taste is really good.\u201d Complex, balanced, and unique were words that came up several times over the course of the selection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019t miss this rare opportunity to taste the final cask of fine d\u2019Alsace from the one and only Domaine Zind Humbrecht.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n