Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles S
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 15 to 50+ years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roquefort or other intense blue cheeses, Foie gras, Rich apricot or pear tarts
✨ Technical Specifications
The Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles 'S' from Famille Hugel represents the absolute pinnacle of Alsatian sweet winemaking. The 'S' denotes an ultra-rare, highly selective cuvée sourced from the historic, steep clay-limestone slopes of the Schoenenbourg Grand Cru in Riquewihr. Hugel famously pioneered the strict laws defining Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) in 1983, and this cuvée is the ultimate expression of that dedication. Produced only in exceptional vintages when noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) develops perfectly, the grapes are meticulously harvested berry-by-berry in successive passes through the vineyard. The resulting nectar is fermented and aged slowly in ancient, neutral oak casks in the family's historic cellars, yielding a wine of monumental concentration, exotic spice, and eternal longevity.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1639 by Hans Ulrich Hugel in the fortified medieval village of Riquewihr, Famille Hugel represents one of the world's most enduring wine dynasties, spanning thirteen consecutive generations. The domaine oversees approximately 30 hectares of estate vineyards—largely concentrated in premier climats including the famed Grand Cru Schoenenbourg and Sporen—supplemented by contractual partnerships across Alsace. Sheltered by the Vosges Mountains in one of France’s driest meso-climates, the steep, south-facing parcels benefit from complex geological mosaics of Triassic limestone, marl, and sandstone. Viticulture follows sustainable lutte raisonnée principles with manual harvesting. Winemaking favors classical restraint: pneumatic pressing, spontaneous fermentation via indigenous yeasts, and élevage in century-old neutral oak foudres, devoid of cosmetic wood influence or chaptalization. Famille Hugel famously pioneered the modern codification of Alsace late-harvest wines; its benchmark portfolio is headlined by the dry, structured Grossi Laüe single-terroir bottlings alongside historically revered Vendange Tardive and botrytized Sélection de Grains Nobles cuvées.
🍇 Grapes
Gewurztraminer
🍷 ABV
7-10%