The 2000 Hugel Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive from Hugel & Fils, in the Alsace region of eastern France, scored 19 Dionysian points out of 20. It  has just 12% alcohol and at 20 years old, it was sublime. The Venange Tardive are the hand-picked late harvest grapes producing a subtle sweetness to the wine.  When that’s on the label, the cost goes up to nearly $50, and the style is very different than a bone dry Gewurztraminer.

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Note “Vendange Tardive” just above the main label. It was paired with an opening salad course, and it was mouth-filling with spice, orange peel, and an herbal quality. The soft sweetness lingered on forever.

Twenty-year-old whites are rare, and the bottled was shared with a few Dionysian members who would enjoy the special treat.

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I do age the Hugel whites for five to ten years, only an exceptional wine like this can go two, even three decades.

Sharing your best older wines with friends. In my book, Wine for Intellectuals, I discuss cellaring wines.  Look it up on Amazon.   In Vino Veritas.