Trimbach Riesling Hommage a Hubert 2023

This wine is named for Hubert Trimbach who did so much to establish the Trimbach name from the 1960’s until just recently when he sadly passed away in 2023. A great ambassador not only for Alsace but also for the Trimbach family. Made from a blend of many of the families finest Grand cru sites. Made in a fresh dry style this wine was aged in old foudres and stainless steel and bottled in the spring of 2024 to retain its freshness vivacity and typical aromas. Aged in the family cellars for 2 years before release. 13.11 % Alc/Vol; 2.8 g/L RS; 3.22 pH; 6.09 g/L TA

‘The 2023 Riesling Homage à Hubert Trimbach is a one-off wine made in honor of Hubert Trimbach (1938-2023), who passed away on the second day of the 2023 harvest. The grapes were sourced from three parcels, including some Grand Crus, which Jean Trimbach wants to keep a secret, but he reveals that there are schist, Triassic limestone and granitic-volcanic soil influences. Trimbach notes that the idea was to have a wine that will be ready to drink a little earlier. A delicate scent of tangerine hovers tenderly on the nose. The palate has a lovely juiciness and a slightly richer, smoother mouthfeel. This is fleshy and superbly clean-cut. (Bonedry).’ 94 points, Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, January 2025.

'Trimbach is at the summit of dry white winemaking.'
Clive Coates M.W.

'Clos St Hune, the Alsace Riesling by which all others are judged.'
Andrew Jefford.

With viticultural origins going back to 1626 this family owned estate produces some of the finest wines not only of Alsace, but indeed the entire world of wine. Around the villages of Ribeauvillé and Hunawihr, the Trimbach family owns 27 hectares of vineyards including 1.67ha of Rosacker Grand cru (which produces the highly famed Clos Sainte Hune Riesling) as well as parcels of Geisberg and Osterberg (blended to make the equally renowned Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile). Geisberg and Osterberg are located on the hill rising up behind the ‘new’ family winery on the edge of Ribeauvillé. The family moved from their ‘old’ winery in Hunawihr in the 1890’s! Indeed, the label of Clos Sainte Hune depicts the view to the local church from the old winery in Hunawihr.

According to Jean Trimbach, the house style is aiming for ‘harmonious wines that are concentrated, not heavy; fruity, not sweet; bracing rather than fat; polite rather than voluptuous.’ To that end, fermentations are cool and slow, maloloactic fermentation is not carried out and the wines are bottled early to retain freshness.

The dry Rieslings are usually made with less than 5g/l of residual sugar, whereas the dry Gewürztraminers might carry up to 10g/l. The wines are then aged in the cellar for at least one year; up to 5 years or more for the top wines. Even the richer Vendanges Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles wines are made with more restraint than is usual in Alsace more generally: VT Rieslings typically carry 15-40g/l; VT Gewürztraminer around 50-75g/l; and SGN typically from 100g/l.