Moving on from the dog days of Summer, some of you might be thinking it’s time to put away your rosés and your white wines and bring out the red – but we here at The Vine like to enjoy the transition to Fall with something a little different. The autumnal weather provides a little bit of everything, requiring wines of versatility. Something refreshing enough for those final afternoons on the patio, while still bringing textural complexity to pair with an afternoon contemplating the leaves falling on Walden Pond. With that in mind we’d like to present the latest addition to our stable of producers, Maison Jean Huttard.
Located in the small village of Zellenberg in Alsace, the estate comprises a total of 8 hectares of vines, divided into a dizzying array of 45 separate plots spread over 6 different towns. The Huttard family sets themselves apart through low yields, organic farming practices, complete manual farming and harvesting. This deep understanding of the land and terroir is why they can produce a wide range, from the ‘Village’ level to the Grand Crus and Lieu Dit wines.
For more information, please check out their wonderful website here!
2020 Cellamberg Sylvaner
Hand harvested organic grapes treated with the utmost care. Gentle pneumatic pressing, spontaneous fermentation and no added sulfur. An impeccable example of clean, natural wine. Complex aromas of bitter almond, stone fruit and orange blossom. The palate has moderate acidity, balancing a flavour profile of honey and dried fruits with a drying minerality.
The old name of our village, Cellamberg means the hermitage on the hill. Modest and forgotten like the hermit, our old Sylvaner plants represent, just like the village, a heritage to be preserved and valued.
Retail $47.95/btl (6 btl/cs)
2021 #frach
A blend of Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Sylvaner, harvested by hand as with all of Jean Huttard’s wines. The grapes see 21 days of skin contact before a pressing and spontaneous fermentation in their gravity flow winery. Bottled unfiltered with no added sulfur. The nose is deeply floral with wild rose and orange zest. The palate follows suit, with dried citrus peels, dried rose, sichuan pepper and yellow apple. The gentle tannin builds in the finish alongside white pepper and ginger spice.
“Frach” or cheeky in Alsatian is a vintage promoting a centuries-old tradition and responding to current environmental, ecological and ethical questions…it’s personality is punk, cosmopolitan, whole and natural.”
Retail $44.95/btl (6 btl/cs)
