2023 Trimbach Riesling Hommage a Hubert Trimbach Alsace 750 ml

Hubert Trimbach was an icon. The public face of one of France’s most storied, collectible wineries for over half a century, he was tireless in his enthusiasm for Alsace’s greatest bottles.

So when he passed away at the dawn of the 2023 harvest, his family knew they had to commemorate his life with something legendary enough to match his spirit and legacy. The result is their triumphant (dry) Riesling Hommage à Hubert Trimbach.

A wine for Hubert would naturally be made from 100% Riesling, Alsace’s noblest grape. The vineyard sourcing would be second to none: Trimbach owns some of the best sites in the area, and makes the most sought-after wine in Alsace, Clos Ste. Hune, which trades for north of $400 per bottle. A painting of that vineyard, Hubert’s favorite, graces the label. And as fate had it, the vintage turned out to be one of the greatest this century.

Few names are as closely associated with Alsace as Trimbach, which has been one of the defining producers of the picturesque Alsace region since 1626. Today, headed by 12th-generation winemaker Pierre Trimbach, the house reflects the centuries of knowledge and passion that have allowed them to set the bar for nearly 400 years.

Alsace, with its steep hillsides and gentle slopes, is a storybook place to grow wine. In this region in northeastern France, church steeples pierce the sky in villages that look lifted directly from a Hollywood set. 

As for the wines, they are among the most crystalline and expressive in the entire country. The Hommage à Hubert Trimbach hails not only from the best vineyards in Alsace—though Jean Trimbach refuses to disclose which specific legendary sites make up this bottling—but one of the finest vintages in memory. A dry, mild winter preceded a wet spring, which set the vines up to thrive in the hot summer. When harvest time rolled around, the days were sunny and the nights were cool, which gave Riesling the perfect conditions for optimal ripening. The resulting wines are fruity yet fresh, with outstanding approachability.