Famille Hugel, Gentil, AOC Alsace, Blanc, 2021

Produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.

Presentation

Quick View
The perfect introduction to Alsace wines as it combines the qualities of all our white varietals. This wine revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines assembled from noble grape varieties were called "Gentil". Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.
The vintage
2021 already appears as the dark year for French agriculture. An unprecedented frost swiped across the country and part of Europe in the night of the 7th to 8th of April. In the following days, alerts kept popping up, but Alsace went through the episode miraculously almost entirely unharmed. But what hasn’t been destroyed by frost was by the worst outbreak of mildew in modern history… The exceptionally rainy and mild weather of the months of May and June saw the development of an episode of mildew, only becoming worse as you went south of the region. We saw our grapes being eaten alive. A dry and cool August and lasting until harvest luckily saved what was left from the crop, but the damage already ranged from 20 to 80% of loss by early August depending on the sites, the volumes at Hugel will be the shortest since 1947. Ironically, it is the drought of September, which will finish to undermine the 2021 crop, reducing even further the yields in juice. But thanks to this cool and very dry weather, what was left of the harvest was in an immaculate sanitary shape! Not a trace of gray rot, and acidity levels that remind us greatly of 2010. Harvest began on September 27th and the reduced crop promises already some very dense and concentrated wines. The rare 2021s will be great cellar worthy wines!
In the vineyard
A kaleidoscope of grapiness, produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. A cool and long growing season gives this unique dry wine great finesse and unequalled drinkability.
Winemaking
The grapes are taken in small tubs to the presses, which are filled by gravity, without any pumping or other mechanical intervention. After pressing, the must is decanted for a few hours, then fermented in temperature-controlled vats (at 18 to 24°C). The wine is racked just once, before natural clarification during the course of the winter. The following spring, the wine is lightly filtered just before bottling, and the bottles are then aged in our cellars until released for sale. The whole production of this wine is closed with DIAM the cork without the risk of cork taint.
Varietals
Gewürztraminer : 32%
Pinot gris : 25%
Riesling : 15%
Pinot blanc : 15%
Sylvaner : 10%
Muscat blanc à petits grains : 3%
Specifications
Alcohol content : : 12.94 % vol.
Residual Sugar : : 4.87 g/l
Tartaric acidity : : 5.62 g/l
pH : : 3.34
Age of vines : : 29 years old
Yield : : 55 hL/ha

Advice

Tasting
As a state of mind, the perfect Gentil should be aromatic, aperitive, yet dry and gastronomic. On the nose, the fruit of the aromatic grapes composing it presents itself first, unmistakably Alsace, it opens on yellow plums, rose, quince, citrus zests. Generous, it quickly invites you to a first sip. In mouth, harmony prevails. Supple, the palate unfolds, pleasant, graceful, leading to a delicate, fresh finish.