I tasted three 1994 Selection de Grains Nobles wines from Zind-Humbrecht. These wines are made in frightfully tiny quantities, and are so rich that they make Chateau d'Yquem look like an under-nourished wine. Truly the stuff of legends, these SGN possess 15%-18% residual sugar. All three will age for 40-50 years, but will anyone wait that long? They are "off the charts" in terms of flavor extraction, balance, quality, and the lavish quantity of extract and intensity they possess. The 1994 Gewurztraminer Rangen Clos St.-Urbain SGN (99+; $450.00) may be the quintessential sweet Gewurztraminer - at least for my palate. All three wines possess remarkable acidity, which gives them blazingly clear definition - amazing in view of their out of this world extract levels.

The reviews in this segment are from a memorable tasting held in April, 1997.

Drink: 1997 - 2047

Wine Advocate # 111 Jun 1997