F. E. Trimbach Clos St. Hune 2019

F. E. Trimbach Clos Ste Hune 2019 is one of Alsace’s most revered dry Rieslings, and this 100th Anniversary release marks a century of greatness from this legendary 1.67-hectare clos. Sourced from a tiny, limestone-rich parcel within the Rosacker Grand Cru in Hunawihr, it’s a wine of striking precision, depth and longevity. The 2019 stands out for its classical, razor‑sharp style, capturing the finesse and saline purity of Clos Ste Hune rather than sheer power or opulence at this early stage.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Clos Ste Hune is pale straw with green reflections, youthful and brilliantly bright. The nose is intensely focused and cool-toned, offering crystalline aromas of lemon zest, lime peel and crushed stone, layered with salty sea spray, white flowers and a hint of graphite and smoke. Everything feels precisely etched and tightly coiled, with the terroir’s limestone signature clearly on display. On the palate, this is a taut, linear and utterly classical dry Riesling: bone‑dry, saline and extremely precise rather than broad or creamy. Citrus notes—lemon, lime and faint grapefruit pith—are wrapped around a vibrant, mouthwatering acidity that drives the wine from attack to finish. There is a refined density at the core, but the impression is more of tension and finesse than weight, with a fine, almost phenolic bite from young tannins that already interplays beautifully with the salty acidity. The finish is long, stony and mineral, leaving a lingering impression of citrus, wet rock and sea salt. This is built for the long haul and is still in its infancy; it will benefit from at least 10 years in bottle and can easily age 20 years or more, developing notes of honey, petrol, lanolin and complex spice while retaining its linear backbone.

Production
Clos Ste Hune is a historic, walled parcel within the Rosacker Grand Cru in Hunawihr, planted exclusively to Riesling on thin, marl-limestone soils over a limestone bedrock—one of Alsace’s most prized terroirs for dry, ageworthy wines. The cool, limestone-rich site naturally yields low quantities of intensely concentrated fruit with high acidity and strong mineral character. Grapes are hand‑harvested at optimal ripeness, carefully sorted and gently pressed to protect finesse and purity. Fermentation takes place in temperature‑controlled stainless steel, using traditional, slow vinification to preserve the wine’s precision and terroir expression. As is customary at Trimbach, Clos Ste Hune is vinified dry and then aged extensively in the cellar before release, ensuring structure, balance and readiness, even though the wine is clearly designed for long-term aging.

Food & Serving
Clos Ste Hune 2019 is a benchmark pairing for refined, pure seafood and subtly prepared dishes that allow its mineral character to shine. Think oysters, scallops, turbot, sole or langoustines—preferably grilled, poached or lightly buttered—along with sushi and sashimi, caviar, or delicate dishes of freshwater fish. It is also outstanding with high-quality goat’s cheese, aged Comté, and fine poultry in light cream or citrus-based sauces. Serve well-chilled but not icy, ideally around 9–11°C (48–52°F), to allow the aromatics and texture to unfurl. In its youth, decanting for 45–60 minutes is recommended to soften the structure and open the nose; with extended bottle age, a gentle, shorter decant to remove any sediment will suffice.

Producer
Founded in 1626, F. E. Trimbach is one of Alsace’s most historic and respected family domains, based in Ribeauvillé and now run by the 13th generation. Over the centuries, Trimbach has become synonymous with dry, gastronomic Riesling, and Clos Ste Hune sits at the pinnacle of their range as one of the world’s most collectible white wines. The family’s philosophy emphasizes purity, precision and ageworthiness, producing wines that are highly sought after by collectors, sommeliers and top restaurants across the globe. The Clos Ste Hune 2019 100th Anniversary bottling underscores both the estate’s deep roots in Alsace and its enduring role as a benchmark for classic, terroir-driven Riesling.