Riesling Selection de Grains Nobles S
⏳ Drinking Window
2025 - 2050
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich foie gras or duck liver terrine, pungent artisanal blue cheeses such as Roquefort, and classic fruit tarts featuring pear or apricot.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hugel & Fils, established in the picturesque village of Riquewihr in 1639, is synonymous with the soul of Alsace winemaking. The rare Riesling Selection de Grains Nobles 'S' represents the absolute pinnacle of their craft. Jean 'Johnny' Hugel was the driving force behind the 1984 legislation that legally defined these late-harvest categories. This legendary cuvee is crafted only in exceptional vintages from individually hand-selected, botrytized Riesling berries, primarily sourced from the historic, steep clay-marl slopes of the Schoenenbourg vineyard. The noble rot concentrates the sugars and acids, resulting in a wine of breathtaking complexity, balancing luscious honeyed sweetness with the vibrant, mineral-driven acidity characteristic of the finest Alsace Riesling. It is a testament to centuries of family devotion and the unique microclimate of Riquewihr.
🍾 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.