Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Gewurztraminer Heimbourg Selection de Grains Nobles

3rd and finally bottle. While certainly not in danger of falling off a cliff, this has been one of my favorite Gewurz’s from ZH, and this was a great way to say good bye to an old friend. The color shows its age, a dark golden hue, but this wine was made without botrytis, so it’s more a function of age at this point. The nose uses everything in its arsenal and takes no prisoners in the process. Super-duper ripe …

Zind-Humbrecht Gewurz and Pinot Gris Blindtasted: '94 to '99 (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA) : Group's #5 (my #3) – 89 pts.; 1, 0, 3, 1 – medium golden yellow color; old roses, geranium, baked lemon, mineral, clementine nose; tasty, maturing, tart lemon, rose petal, smoke, mineral palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish

Zind-Humbrecht Gewurz and Pinot Gris Blindtasted: '94 to '99 (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA) : Group's #4 (my #4) – 64 pts.; 5, 2, 1, 0 - light medium golden yellow color; cream, botrytis, baked peach, honey, floral nose; tart pineapple, lemon, tart peach, mineral palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.

Just not that good. Too golden and quite flat. Prematurely aged, probably heat damaged at some point in its life. too bad.

Golden color. Dense, full nose of lychee, tropical fruit and honey. Palate is medium rich with good balancing acidity. Sweetness is well cloaked and integrated. Long, fruit, spice and honey filled finish. Seemingly at peak.

I’ve always had a personal affinity for this bottle in the past, and this showing was no different. In fact, I’d call this the best non VT or SGN ZH Gewürztraminer I’ve had to date. And that says a lot by this producers standards. No sign of botrytis in 99, as the wine sports a dark hue of straw colored yellow. The nose is from Heaven. Impossibly ripe pineapple and mango yes, but perfume? Oh lord yes! Chanel No 5, …

Nose of oil, pears and peaches. Tastes of peaches and pears. Rich mouth feel. Some bitterness. Mid palate is a bit weak. Nice finish. Acidity was a bit weak at first making it cloying but after about an hour in the glass, it came into better balance. Total Gewurztraminer.