Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives 37.5cl Half Bottle

Description

Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives (VT) is a dessert wine from Alsace made from late-harvested grapes. Available to buy at Fareham Wine Cellar.

Maison Trimbach: An Alsace Icon

Maison Trimbach (F. E. Trimbach) is, without question, one of the greatest names in wine-making in the French region of Alsace. Based in the town of Ribeauvillé, the Trimbach family has been involved in wine making for over 13 generations. The business was founded by Jean Trimbach in 1626 in Riquewihr and has since moved twice, in the 1840s to Hunawihr and most recently to Ribeauvillé after World War One.

Vineyards Around Ribeauvillé

Maison Trimbach has an enviable reputation for the quality of its entire range. Trimbach owns many vineyards located around Ribeauvillé and they also act as a negociant for local growers. Trimbach does not use the Alsace Grand Cru designation for any of their wines (although most of their top wines come from Grand Cru vineyard sites). (Edit 23/01/18: I see that Timbach have released a small amount of Grand Cru wines from Riesling Grand Cru Geisberg in 2009 and 2011 and Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg in 2014).

The estate’s 58 hectares of vineyards are spread over 50 parcels throughout villages like Hunawihr, Bergheim, and Riquewihr. The soils, which are mainly limestone with marl, sandstone and clay, contribute to the minerality and complexity of the wines. The nearby Vosges Mountains create a unique microclimate with low rainfall, sunny summers, and dry autumns, which is ideal for grape production.

The main focus is on Riesling, but they also produce fantastic Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc and Muscat

Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives Winemaking

• Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives is crafted from late-harvested, hand-selected botrytised (noble rot, Botrytis cinerea) Gewurztraminer grapes.
• Sourced from the best vineyards: Grand Cru Osterberg in Ribeauvillé and very old vines at the Muelforst site in Hunawihr.
• Produced only in exceptional years, consistent with Trimbach’s top wines.
• Features natural residual sugar of over 80g, perfectly balanced with a fresh, acidic character.
• Vegan and vegetarian-friendly wine.

Vendages Tardives in Alsace

Vendanges Tardives wines in Alsace are restricted to four noble grape varieties of the region – Muscat, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer – and these wines are subjected to some of the French most stringent wine laws. The grapes for Vendanges tardives wines are picked last of all, and only from the best vineyard plots in the best vintages.

The grapes are always over-ripe and often affected by noble rot, or Botrytis cinerea. Unlike most Alsace wines, they contain residual sugar, which gives high viscosity and a honeyed quality. However, their great richness is balanced by fresh fruity acidity, which not only confers exceptional length on the palate but also prevents the wines from being cloying.