Sylvaner HUGEL 2023

This varietal is in constant decrease in Alsace, yet it remains plated in the most favoured terroirs with the average age of the vines in constant increase. The Riesling of the poor ?

2023 was primarily a year marked by drought. While the health status and quality of the vintage are exceptional as a result, yields, especially for Riesling, were strongly impacted. The most significant dry spell lasted from April 18th to July 23rd, with almost no rain, following a cold and late start to spring. However, despite the lack of heatwaves, 2023 is a dry and healthy year, but not particularly warm in Alsace! The harvest on September 18th passed without a drop of rain. 2023 is an easy vintage and will be among the greats at Hugel.

Harvested in the first days of harvest, exclusively by hand, from clay and limestone vineyards in a dozen of the most favoured localities in and around Riquewihr. A cool and long growing season give this unique dry wine great finesse and balanced intensity.

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°C 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.