The Hugel 2000 Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive is 12% alcohol, scored 19 points on the 20-point Dionysian judging scale and had a Residual Sugar of 68 grams per litter. That’s a luscious sweetness!
Vendange Tardive means “Late Harvest” and since 1984 it is an official French designation for special dessert, or just sweet wines. In Alsace, France, the sweet wines have enough acid to be very refreshing. Less than 3% of the total crop is made this way and only during special years.
Late harvest wines are the quintessence of Alsace and the Hugel family has gone through 12 unbroken generations since 1639 in the area. The wine has spicy pear aromas and a thick creamy feel with a long, long finish. It worked with the pork, but was even better with the blue cheese after dinner.
The grapes were picked with 278n g/l of sugar in the grapes and it cost about $55. At 15 years old. I’m certain that it could last at least another 35-40 years. Try one the first chance you get. In vino veritas.
The Hugel & Fils wine was served with tenderloin of pork glazed with a fig chutney along side of sautéed onion and zucchini in wild rice. It was garnished with a Sage flower.
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