TN: 1994 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl (France, Alsace, Hunawihr, Alsace AOC)

WINE TALK
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  • 1994 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl - France, Alsace, Hunawihr, Alsace AOC (1/12/2009)
    I love this wine. Not just because it is such a great wine, but because it sparks a lot of discussion in our house about which Windsbuhl Riesling will be th finest ever made given time to age. Is it this tremendous '94, which Dena believes to be the winner, or is the '05, still a baby but with boundless potential and my choice. In the end we always agree that an evening drinking either vintage and being able to have such an “argument” means life can’t be too bad. Medium gold in color, this impeccably balanced wine has lively acidity and a very ripe nose that makes the brain expect a sweet wine. Then this full bodied wine hits the palate with rich, deep, pure and concentrated fruit and the flavors of apple, grapefruit, flowers, lavender and minerals, But none of that is where your brain initially focuses. The focus turns to the fact that this wine is dry and that you are totally confused by what you just experienced. The very long finish gives you plenty of time to contemplate the greatness that just crossed your palate. Hmmm…sounds like I just made a very good argument for Dena’s side of the story! I need those '05s to age and prove that they will be every bit this wine’s equal. 50+14+14+9.5+9.5 = 97 (97 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Nothing quite like a ZH with some age to it - I recently had a '92 Rangen Clos St. Urbain that was spot-on. Nice note!

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I like the 95 over the 94. The 96 might last the longest, but I like the 95’s richness.

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Eric -

I have to disagree. Of those 3 vintages I feel the '94 will easily last the longest and taste the best during that tenure. The acidity is higher in the '94 as is the ripeness so there’s a great balance that belies what the wine has in reserve. Now if we’re talking Brand Riesling there’s no doubt to me that the '95 VT is superior to the surrounding vintages.

But of course it’s all opinion and none of these wines that we are discussing are less than very good.

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We had the 94 ZH Clos St Urbain Rangen Riesling last week at a big tasting (search the squires board for “Barolet”)-- which I’d expect even to exceed the Windsbuhl. It was from my cellar, and I can attest to its storage, after purchase from a retailer who does some grey marketing about 12-13 years ago. I agree re the expectation of sweetness and the dry long finish, but most of us thought the wine was a little fat and low in acid… It did open up and lighten and become fresher in the glass, and it was a wine that I kept coming back to over several hours… Quite a bit better than mark’s note but not at the heights of Jeff’s post here… makes me want to try my sole bottle of Windsbuhl PG… but I’m scratching my head… maybe my other bottle will be better

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I have been holding off on most of my remaining stock of 1994 Zind Humbrecht, instead focusing on the '98s and '00s which seem to be coming into maturity at a more rapid pace. '94 is indeed a very high point for this domaine, and I hope that they equal it some day. I don’t think I have had a greater vendange tardive wine than the '94 Pinos Gris from Clos Windsbuhl.

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With regards to '94 Rangen vs Windsbuhl when it comes to Riesling I think the Windsbuhl is the superior wine. Your Rangen sounds a little off but it may just be that it needed more aeration since you say it improved over the course of the evening. Rangen can need a lot of air to unwind before it is mature, and the '94 is certainly not yet mature.

Agreed on the Windsbuhl PG VT from '94. Killer stuff.

As for a vintage across the board as good as '94 I think '05 is it. From the top wines to the non-vineyard designated wines all had such great stuffing that they will age with incredible grace.

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But of course it’s all opinion and none of these wines that we are discussing are less than very good.

Definitely, of that we can agree!