The Legend of CSH, Renewed Yet Again
2003 Trimbach Clos Ste. Hune
Lowest Price in the World...
and the '03 represents the last CSH to be priced at this level
True story: We'd just received a delivery of Trimbach's 2003 Clos Ste. Hune at the store when a good Riesling client walked in. Figuring an 03 would be plenty gregarious, we opened a bottle for him as an impromptu blind tasting…
Pressed for a guess as to what was in the glass, the client, an experienced Riesling taster and buyer, ventured: "Mosel Riesling?"
For the Riesling geek, such a response is simply shocking - an Alsatian Riesling, from the monstrously ripe 2003 vintage, showing the cut, energy and etched delineation of its northerly Germanic cousins. Had we not poured ourselves a glass, were we not also inhaling the exceedingly fresh, floral perfume of the intensely mineral Riesling, we might not have believed it ourselves.
And thus the legend of Trimbach’s Clos Ste. Hune renews itself once again. This is the most collectible Riesling from Alsace, bar none.
Today, the 2003 - as mentioned before, a sumptuously ripe vintage - is just soaring into its peak drinking phase, the ripeness of the vintage admirably well-integrated into the signature stoniness that is Clos Ste. Hune.
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Today, the 2003 is also on offer at the lowest price in the world: $115.95 a bottle on the 4-pack - which is also currently the lowest pricing for any Clos Ste. Hune in the U.S., period.Â
Far from the vintage overwhelming the terroir, this is still flaunting an amazing clarity, a transparency that is among the greatest expressions of soil and mineral in the wine world - evidence that, even in challenging vintages, Hune wins. The fiercely mineral site definitely seems to have the last word here; suitably, Stephen Tanzer’s tasting note for the 03 talks of a “strong liquid stone flavor” as well as a “pronounced stony character” in addition to mentions of the more exotic fruit that characterize this ripe, rich vintage.
Our own recent tastings have shown this to first strut candied pineapple and stone fruit notes in between lemon-limey acidity; then, dominating the picture are all of Hune’s requisite minerals. The CSH is often known for being rather strict, and while this may come across as a bit more showy for a Clos Ste. Hune, it's also exceedingly delicious... like CSH with its hair down.
The drinking window is wide open now, and while there's no reason to hold out any longer, all signs indicate that this has the guts to keep going for another three to five years, no problem. Especially considering how versatile this wine will show alongside everything from richer fish and shellfish dishes to this holiday season's roast turkeys and hams - and especially considering this sharp price point - this is not to be overlooked.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Robert Schagrin
Managing Partner
Crush Wine & Spirits
