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Wine Description
The Story
Blend: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc
A kaleidoscope of grapiness, produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavor of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.
Terroir: The grapes used to produce Hugels "Classic" wines come exclusively from estate owned vineyards or from growers under long term contract surrounding the village of Riquewihr.
Vinification: Hugel Gentil is a traditional Alsace blend of varying amounts of Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat and Sylvaner. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled vats followed by natural clarification in neutral vessels over the winter. The wine is lightly fined and gently filtered prior to bottling in the spring.
Beginning with the 2009 vintage, Gentil is bottled exclusively with the DIAM closure to avoid any risk of cork taint.
From The Wine Advocate "You start into the Hugel world with the Gentil Hugel, a dry white assemblage of all noble Alsatian grape varieties except of Pinot Noir. The wine “revives an ancient Alsace tradition whereby a wine assembled from a range of noble grapes was called 'Gentil.'" The Hugels communicate and further: "Perfectly dry, our Gentil brings together the elegance of Riesling, the richness of Pinot Gris, the fruit-driven aromas of Gewurztraminer and Muscat, and the freshness of Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner."
Wine Information
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 4.0 g/l
Total Acidity: 5.7 g/l
Recent Press:
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Vinous Author: Ian D'Agata – 90 Points
Date: Friday, June 1, 2018Pale bright yellow. Fresh aromas of mirabelle, nectarine, tangerine, minty herbs and crushed stone. Quite dry, juicy and elegant, featuring stone fruit and mineral flavors sexed up by a flinty nuance on the end. Still a bit youthfully tight, but this is a marvelous Gentil, the best I remember from Hugel in years. Its a delicious, lovely, fresh wine that, though not the last word in complexity, is easygoing and full of early appeal. A very complex blend of Sylvaner, Riesling, Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois, and Pinot Gris, plus a little Gewrztraminer, Muscat Ottonel and Muscat dAlsace; 40 years ago Gentil used to be at least 40% Sylvaner but in recent times the blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois had taken over, to my mind one of the main reasons for Gentils downfall. What one wants from a Gentil is mineral florality and freshness, not heavy-handed, honeyed and spicy aromas and flavors.
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Wine Enthusiast Author: Anne Krebiehl – 89 Points
Date: Sunday, April 1, 2018Fresh, ripe apple, lemon and pear are on full display on the open nose. The palate balances this abundance with a pleasantly bitter, tangy note. This is dry, slender and refreshing with a layered, stony core.
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The Wine Advocate Author: Stephan Reinhardt – 87 Points
Date: Monday, January 15, 2018The 2016 Gentil Hugel is a blend of all the white Alsatian grape varieties that had been bottled the day before I tasted it in late April 2017. The wine is clear, fresh and aromatic on the nose, terribly crisp and piquant on the palate, provided with a really racy acidity. The 2016 has good phenolic grip and tension and is pleasantly light at 12.6% alcohol. A really stimulating aperitif.
