Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Alsace Aoc 2008

Medium orange-gold. Exotic honeyed fruit salad, overripe pear and a hint of cashew on the nose. Thick, dense and tactile, with flavors similar to the aromas. Solid acidity and a dusty impression of extract give this rich and fairly sweet wine a chewy quality. The highest in alcohol of Olivier Humbrechtandrsquo;s 2008s by a wide margin, yet it manages to remain just this side of overbearing. Still, this really needs to be paired with spicy Asian cuisine.

Thereandrsquo;s a nice salty minerality to this white, with crackling acidity supporting the white peach, quince and kumquat flavors. This has fine intensity and length, with a vibrancy that enlivens the wine and a long, smoke-tinged finish. Drink now through 2020.

Zind-Humbrecht's generic 2009 Pinot Gris this year incorporates all of their fruit from the Herrenweg plus bits and pieces from other sites. In contrast to other recent installments, it finished entirely dry, having in the process accumulated 14% alcohol. Scents of smoked meat and meat pate mingled with fresh mirabelle migrate to a creamy-textured yet - for its grape and vintage - surprisingly brightly juicy palate. This finishes with a faint hint of heat that won't matter when it is appropriately paired at table over the next couple of years.

Deep yellow. Ripe peach, apricot, honey and spices on the nose, with a fresh herbal element emerging with aeration. Suave and silky, showing a tactile texture and good concentration. Ripe acids keep this rather sweet pinot gris from cloying. A bit abrupt on the back, but offers good complexity and satisfying fruit. This includes young vines from Clos Windsbuhl, a bit of Rangen and a considerable percentage of Heimbourg fruit.

Red grapefruit and dried apricot flavors are accented by tangy acidity and lots of spice in this dry white. A honeyed note leads to a hint of beeswax that lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2013.

Pleasing yellow peach, papaya and honeysuckle flavors make up this clean, fresh white. The fleshy texture is well-defined by tangy acidity, as is the lingering, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2018.

Zind-Humbrechtrsquo;s generic 2009 Pinot Gris this year incorporates all of their fruit from the Herrenweg plus bits and pieces from other sites. In contrast to other recent installments, it finished entirely dry, having in the process accumulated 14% alcohol. Scents of smoked meat and meat pate mingled with fresh mirabelle migrate to a creamy-textured yet mdash; for its grape and vintage mdash; surprisingly brightly juicy palate. This finishes with a faint hint of heat that wonrsquo;t matter when it is appropriately paired at table over the next couple of years.