When botrytis rapidly overtakes the grapes, says Humbrecht, as it did those of the 2005 Pinot Gris Heimbourg Selection de Grains Nobles, the ennobling effect is all the more concentrated and dramatic. And when high acidity is added to the effect of botrytis – as is also the case here – the yeasts seldom stand a chance of getting very far along in fermentation (in this instance 10% alcohol) and even an enormous amount of residual sugar (here 219 grams) does not come off as cloying. An absolutely ethereal concentration of pure botrytisin, honey, apricot nectar, litchi, white raisin, and cinnamon spice on the nose set the tone for this amazingly rich, buttery-textured, yet buoyant and positively invigorating wine. Licorice, vanilla, and saline, chalky mineral threads weave their way into the already intricate and plush carpet of flavors in a finish of astonishing lift and refinement. This extraordinary wine will reward at least three decades in the cellar.Olivier Humbrecht compares his 2004s with 1992. These were the two most copious vintages of recent times, delivering truly dry wines with quite high acidity. Although he characterized 2004 as more precocious than 2005, Humbrecht kept harvesting through early November, insisting that this was only possible due to his stringent, biodynamic viticultural practices and consequent generally healthy fruit. Humbrecht insists too that he did not seek botrytis, as rain was rendering noble rot nearly impossible. But it certainly seems sometimes as if botrytis sought out him! One price for his protracted harvest was elevated alcohol, which some wines struck me as hard-pressed to gracefully support; and acid levels too occasionally reached extremes. Overall, in fact, I have never tasted such a wide rage of quality nor so many unusually distinctive and at times downright inscrutable wines at this address as those of 2004. Two thousand five, relates Humbrecht, brought ample botrytis, especially with Pinot Gris, but later ripeness, again with formidable acid and extract levels thanks to the cool, well-watered August. Nearly all of the Riesling musts fermented dry. Humbrecht considers it a classic vintage for (in most instances dry-tasting) Gewurztraminer. And despite the blanket of rot that descended on the Pinot Gris vineyards, a cold, virtually cloudless five day period permitted patient and rigorous selection of fruit. A tribute to the ripeness and high tartaric acidity of these 2005s is that although well more than half of his lots of Riesling and Pinot Gris underwent malolactic transformation, an experienced taster would be hard-pressed to identify which! “Had we had the challenging October of 2004 in 2005 as well,” he says, “most ‘04s would be better than the ‘05s.” But as things turned out – October 2005 having been the second warmest after 2001 in the last decade – Humbrecht believes that in the long run these two collections will prove well matched in overall quality.Importer: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (415) 491-4724
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