Maison Trimbach : Riesling "Clos Sainte Hune" 100e Anniversaire 2019

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Riesling "Clos Sainte Hune" 100th Anniversary 2019 from Maison Trimbach

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a luminous pale yellow hue, enhanced by shimmering green highlights that attest to its youth.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic purity, expressing notes of candied lemon, white peach and white flowers. A distinctive chalky minerality emerges, the signature of the terroir's limestone soils.

Palate

On the palate, this dry white wine proves remarkably taut and elegant. A vibrant, well-balanced acidity structures the palate, while an impressive concentration carries the tasting toward a persistent, dry finish. Remarkable salinity and deep minerality define this long finish, hinting at extraordinary aging potential.

Food and wine pairings

This Riesling pairs beautifully with premium seafood such as scallops, poached lobster, and grilled or smoked fish. It also elegantly accompanies young goat cheese, Gruyère or Comté. Spicy Asian dishes with ginger and lemongrass, as well as Alsatian specialties such as seafood choucroute, also make excellent pairings. This wine is ideal as an aperitif.

Serving and storage

The Riesling "Clos Sainte Hune" 100th Anniversary 2019 can be cellared advantageously for at least 30 years. It is recommended to wait at least until 2029 before tasting, with a drinking window extending to approximately 2059, or even beyond under optimal storage conditions.

Other characteristics

An exceptional dry white wine, this Riesling is defined by its perfect balance between minerality, vibrant acidity and aromatic concentration. No malolactic fermentation was carried out, lending the wine a crystalline precision and great energy.

A centennial Alsace Riesling celebrating the excellence of Grand Cru Rosacker

The estate

Maison Trimbach is one of the oldest wine houses in Alsace, with origins dating back to 1626. Established in Ribeauvillé since 1920, this family-owned estate is now led by the thirteenth generation of the Trimbach family. The domaine cultivates 65 hectares certified in organic farming, supplemented by grape purchases from 35 partner growers also certified organic since 2023. The Maison embodies more than four centuries of winemaking excellence, rigor and dedication to the pure expression of the Alsatian terroir. It remains an undisputed global benchmark for exceptional-quality Riesling wines, guided by a philosophy of balance, sharing and passing on tradition.

The vineyard

The Clos Sainte Hune is a historic 1.67-hectare plot, the exclusive property of the Trimbach family for over two hundred years. Located in the heart of Grand Cru Rosacker in Hunawihr, Alsace, this vineyard sits at mid-slope within a natural amphitheater formation, perfectly sheltered from the wind. Its south and southeast exposure promotes the accumulation of solar energy. The deep limestone and marl-limestone soil includes calcareous and dolomitic pebbles from the Muschelkalk and Lettenkohle formations. The cool, dry mesoclimate, combined with the shadow cast by the Vosges mountain range, allows for slow, healthy ripening of the grapes. The plot has been farmed organically since 2008, with vines averaging 45 years of age. Pruning has been carried out for over 25 years by Laurent Murschel, the only person authorized to perform this delicate task.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage proved to be an exceptional year for Alsatian Rieslings. It is characterized by a perfect balance between summer warmth, beneficial rainfall in August and an early, high-quality harvest. The climatic conditions allowed the grapes to reach maximum ripeness, harvested as late as possible to ensure optimal depth of flavor and exceptional complexity.

Winemaking and aging

The Riesling "Clos Sainte Hune" 100th Anniversary 2019 is vinified according to the estate's traditional philosophies. After pressing, the wine is crafted in old foudres or stainless steel tanks depending on the vintage. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of around 18–20°C over three to four weeks. The wine then ages on fine lees, followed by a gentle filtration that preserves its delicate compounds. No oak aging is employed in order to preserve the purity of the fruit and the mineral expression of the terroir. Bottling takes place the spring following the harvest, after which the wine benefits from extended cellar aging before release, allowing it to fully blossom.

Grape variety

100% Riesling