Current gold indeed

Zind-Humbrecht 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com 16 March 2017 In 2015, I reported for Decanter on the Alsace harvest as being warmer than usual. The Alsatian Wine Council (CIVA), for example, had allowed acidification in Alsace for the first time since 2003, because acidities were lower than in previous years. But, acidity is above […]

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Domaine Albert Mann: innovative and friendly

Enjoying annual open doors – and trying 2015s By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com  5 May 2016 You want great wine at a good value? Sure, you can find that in many wine regions. But in Alsace, where so many grands crus exists, so many complicated names, and confusion over whether a wine is sweet, off […]

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Zind Humbrecht shines yet again in 2014

After a superlative 2013, 2014 an excellent follow up By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com  26 April 2016 About one year ago, I was singing praises for Zind Humbrecht 2013. Not meaning to be a bore, but I have to sing praises yet again for the 2014. Although overall, I may give a slight edge to 2013, […]

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Heady joys of vin chaud

France’s oldest Christmas market and … mulled wine By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com  3 December 2015 Here in the heart of Alsace, Strasbourg is known as the Christmas capital. With little wonder. Founded in 1570, the well-known Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie is considered to be the oldest Christmas market in France. Starting in late November, through […]

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No more Jubilee

Hugel’s trend towards terroir, over brand 11 October 2015 By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com  As we have seen with Trimbach, in a previous post from these pages, the historic Alsace estate Hugel also has been critical of the grand cru AOC system established in Alsace in 1975, and revised in the 1980s. Both estates have long preferred […]

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Terroir evolution for Maison Trimbach …

… and the just-released 2008 Clos Sainte Hune, among other delights By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com Among highlights of my visit on 5 October to this marvelous Alsace producer? Two vintages of the famous Clos Sainte Hune. This exceptional wine is a product of the terroir in the Rosacker grand cru vineyard, located in the […]

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Zind Humbrecht 2013: buy it!

By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com  What a treat it was to taste the 2013 vintage at the legendary Domaine Zind Humbrecht estate near Colmar in Alsace. First of all, it felt like the United Nations. From South Africans to Americans, owner Olivier Humbrecht has hired an international cast of wine pros to help out. Take […]

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Alsace appellation “confusion”? Bring it on!

By Panos Kakaviatos for wine-chronicles.com  20 February 2015 I just had a news article published on decanter.com about plans to add two more appellations to the 53 that already exist. Some posters in social media react with the remark that far more important is for consumers to understand if the wines are sweet or dry. Indeed, […]

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Business lunch at the one star Buerehiesel

Restaurant review by Panos Kakaviatos for Wine-Chronicles.com 7 February 2015 We were seated in a well-sunlit space, the large windows offering lovely views of the trees in the surrounding Orangerie park on a cold, yet sunny February day. The site was the Restaurant Buerehiesel, located in the heart of Strasbourg’s rather expansive and pastoral park, […]

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Alsace’s “classic” harvest in 2014

Seems to favor fresh styled dry wines, and could be great for crémant By Panos Kakaviatos in Strasbourg 2014 looks to be a “classic vintage” with high acidities and good ripening especially for Riesling and Pinot Blanc, reported Olivier Humbrecht of Zind Humbrecht in Turckheim, who finished harvesting in late September at his precocious vineyards. […]

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