A Zind-Humbrecht Trio: Marc de Gewürztraminer 2009 and 1976, Eau de Vie de Vin 1996

Описание: No question, this is the most intimidating flight I've ever done.

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace is well-known among wine nerds for concentrated, biodynamically-farmed wines that, especially at their upper levels, can age for decades. What's less well-known is that they also have some kind of small distilling operation going on, apparently run by the family (Leonard Humbrecht distilled the 1976 below, I'm not sure about the others). Unusually for Alsace, they seem to prefer aging their spirits in wood (even with the only one in this trio that's not oaked, they choose ash over stainless steel for resting it). And as a last touch they then they bottle it unreduced, unfiltered, and almost certainly uncolored, likely an influence from winemaker Olivier Humbrecht's longstanding love affair with single malts (https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/the... ). There's not much of their stuff around, but if you ever try one you'll remember it. I myself had perhaps an ounce of their 1976 marc last year (   • No-Notes Marc Sample Roundup: Chamilly Vie...   ), and it haunted me with how good it was. And how baffling it was. I knew next to nothing about it and it still snagged a guest spot in my Spirits of 2021 video (   • No-Notes Marc Sample Roundup: Chamilly Vie...   ); I mainly knew I needed more.

And so, after sacrificing more than I can tell to dark forces without names, I now have a full bottle of not only the 1976 Marc de Gewürztraminer but also the 1996 Eau de Vie de Vin - basically a fine d'Alsace, I suppose - as well as a precious few ounces of their Marc 2007 (which, according to the defunct page at https://leshop.boutiquevini.com/produ..., is indeed from Gewürztraminer pomace, although I wasn't sure when I recorded this). New reviews for the others, and a re-review of the 1976 now that I've had time to feel it out. And I gotta be 100 here, these are all absolutely incredible.

Dom. Zind-Humbrecht Eau de Vie Marc de Gewürztraminer 2007 (Turckheim; aged in ash wood for 12 years; unreduced, unfiltered, 191 bottles; 62% ABV), 91/100
Dom. Zind-Humbrecht Eau de Vie de Vin 1996 (Turckheim; bottled 2019, circa 23 years old; unreduced, unfiltered, 246 bottles; 62% ABV), 92/100
Dom. Zind-Humbrecht Eau de Vie Marc de Gewürztraminer 1976 (Turckheim, distilled by Leonard Humbrecht; bottled 2016 or maybe Jan. 2017, circa 40 years old; unreduced, unfiltered, 370 bottles; 63.1% ABV), 94/100

What can I say? The unoaked 2007, even if the spirit as such isn't necessarily better than the Metté marc I so adore (see    • Intro to Marc 2: Cordelier, Metté, Dumangi...   ), beats that previous favorite by sheer 62% muscle. The 1996 "fine" embarrasses Borderies Cognacs that cost far more money. And the 1976 feels like you simply could not stuff anything more into a glass. Not only the most intimidating flight I've ever done, but maybe also... the best?

Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon (  / differentspirits  ) -

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