Hugel Gentil 2024

Hugel Gentil is made by Famille Hugel, an Alsatian house at Riquewihr whose winemaking history reaches back to the fifteenth century. Gentil is a traditional Alsace category built from several noble grapes: Gewürztraminer brings a sweet, spicy perfume, Pinot Gris adds body, Riesling contributes finesse and structure, Muscat a grapey fruit and Sylvaner backbone. The grapes come from plots around Riquewihr and to the south of Colmar, where the soils are dominated by clay and limestone. This is a dry, sheltered part of the Rhine valley, protected by the Vosges mountains, so the vines ripen well while retaining the acidity that keeps aromatic Alsace whites lively. Blending across the varieties is the point here, combining the perfume of Gewürztraminer and Muscat with the structure of Riesling and Pinot Gris for balance. The colour is bright pale yellow with green glints. The nose is fresh and expressive, with ripe yellow plum and white peach, rose petal and white flowers, lifted by a note of ginger spice. The palate is rounded and gently aromatic, balanced by clean acidity into a dry finish. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees. It is a versatile partner for aromatic and lightly spiced dishes.