More wines available from Hugel Et Fils
1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$39.80
Very fresh with notes of sliced pears, lemons and white peaches plus a touch of white pepper spice and chamomile....
750ml
Bottle:
$13.94
$15.41
Very fresh with notes of sliced pears, lemons and white peaches plus a touch of white pepper spice and chamomile....
750ml
Bottle:
$19.93
$21.80
I love the extrovert wealth of orange aromas ranging from blossoms to zest and candied peel. Wonderful balance of...
750ml
Bottle:
$27.40
What an attractively floral gewurz this is, not only roses, but also honeysuckle and jasmine. More substance than it...
Pre-Arrival
Hugel Et Fils Gewurztraminer Grossi Laue 2012
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$57.18
How can a gewurztraminer be this concentrated, have 14% alcohol and still be this subtle? It has all the floral notes...
More Details
Winery
Hugel Et Fils
Vintage: 2011
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
Varietal: Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer is a highly interesting grape varietal, as the fruit is normally a dark blushed pink in color, often veering towards purple, yet it produces highly elegant white wines prized in its native central Europe and elsewhere around the world. The Gewurztraminer grapes contain quite a high amount of natural sugars, resulting in wines which are 'off-dry' and give the impression of sweetness, without being classed as actually sweet. What this grape is most noted for, however, is its remarkable flavors: highly perfumed, full of notes of rose water, Turkish delight, lychees and other aromatic fruits. Despite being notoriously difficult to grow, the Gewurztraminer grapes have such unique and fine qualities that many wineries continue to persevere with these fickle vines, and their popularity is expected to continue growing in the future.
Region: Alsace
Alsace has to be one of the most fascinating regions of France, with a history which stretches back millennia, and demonstrates perfectly the kind of blended culture that can arise from being located on the border between two enormously important, yet very different countries. Indeed, being on the border between France and Germany has resulted in Alsatian wines being something of a mix between the wines of these two countries. Riesling varietal grapes are grown in enormous quantities here, and display all of their crisp, dry complexity perfectly in the famous wines of Alsace. Alongside this typically Germanic wine, Alsatian vintners also produce plenty of Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Sauvignon Vert wines, all of which are superb when it comes to expressing the finer features of the wonderful Alsatian terroir.
Country: France
Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.