Everyone knows how expensive the best French wines are, like our global Wine of the Year, the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grand Siècle Grande Cuvée N26. It's an amazing 100-point wine, but it costs about US$235 (S$315) a bottle.
So it may come as a surprise that our French Wine of the Year is a pinot gris, and it's priced around just US$90 a bottle. The perfect-scoring Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Alsace Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2021 hails from the Rangen vineyard, an ultra-steep, low-yielding grand cru site in Alsace with volcanic stony soils. Domaine Zind Humbrecht's 2.5ha plot of biodynamically grown pinot gris produced a brilliant and impeccably balanced expression of the variety in 2021, achieving an overwhelming smoky and salty minerality that makes this wine one of a kind.
2021 was a unique vintage in Alsace, with ultra-low yields. "We lost a lot of grapes due to downy mildew and early spring frost," says the owner of Zind Humbrecht, Olivier Humbrecht, whose son, Pierre-Emile, made the 2021 pinot gris. But producers such as Domaine Zind Humbrecht, which were uncompromising in their selection, made exceptional wines. Many agreed it was their best vintage for pinot gris in a very long time.
And though the 3,500-bottle production of the Pinot Gris Clos Saint Urbain 2021 was too small for the wine to qualify for our World Top 100 list, which requires a minimum production of 500 cases of 12 bottles (we require production of 250 cases of 12 bottles for our Top 100 country lists), it's still widely distributed and readily found on Wine Searcher.
The other 11 Alsatian wines in this year's Top 100 are also available for less than US$100. Among them are enormously concentrated dry wines, such as the Domaine Barmes-Buecher Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Hengst 2021, at No 3, and the Muré Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg Clos Saint Landelin 2019 at No 7.
Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
TRIUMPH OF IMAGINATION
Cartier’s latest limited-edition Tutti Tutti jewellery collection is a joyful expression of the house’s boundless creativity and commitment to pushing design boundaries.
Dancing on a Palate
Singapore is a haven for gourmets seeking the next must-visit food spots. Here are four that offer flavours from the region and beyond.
THE X FACTOR
Geely’s Zeekr X is an all-electric poweiimes of a compact SUV that packs plenty of Scandinavian charm into a sumptuous cabin.
MISSION TO ENGAGE
Filmmaker HE SHUMING crafts his stories of human connection with the aim of sparking the magic of cinema.
PORT OF DELIGHT
The Douro Valley, the home of port wine, offers more than just exceptional vintages. Here, visitors are immersed in centuries-old winemaking traditions, luxurious retreats and awe-inspiring landscapes.
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
The Paraiba tourmaline has become the gemstone du jour, a stunning showcase of electric blue and green capturing the hearts of their wearers. But what exactly is it about these vibrant gems that has caught the world's attention?
A House of Enchantment
Van Cleef & Arpels' Asia Pacific president JULIE CLODY MEDINA sheds light on the enduring popularity of the classic Alhambra, and why the jewellery maison is on a mission to share its savoir-faire with the widest possible audience.
Wonder in Every Moment
From a Santos-Dumont that tells the time backwards to the Reflections bracelet watch that mirrors a dial using a polished surface, Cartier's latest timepieces revolve around the theme of magic. Cartier image, style and heritage director PIERRE RAINERO shares more.
IN PERFECT HARMONY
breathes fresh life into one of its oldest watch families inspired by a classical design principle.
HEAVENLY HOST
Capella Hotel group president CRISTIANO RINALDI reveals what the World's Best Hotel Brand has in store.
