Golden-yellow colored, the 2012 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Hengst (from vines planted on the south, south-east-facing mid-slope in the 1930s and 1957) is a dense, super clear and very aromatic wine on the nose displaying deep and spicy mineral notes of oranges, lemons and spicy flavors. Very rich and oily textured, this is an intense and powerful yet highly elegant and nobly textured wine with a big structure, persistent tension and salinity -- a great Hengst with almost 15% alcohol (which is not necessarily a bad thing with Gewürztraminer) and 41 grams of unfermented sweetness. The piquant freshness and brilliance of this wine is remarkable, and so is the firm and tension-filled finish that indicates a great aging potential. Don't decant it, but wait for three or five or 25 years. - Stephan Reinhardt

Vibrant, defined as much by the spiced mineral character as by its rich, ripe baked peach, guava and honey flavors, showing intriguing accents of Thai basil, cumin and ginger. Luxuriantly mouthcoating and silky, but the piercing acidity imparts lovely balance through the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030. 220 cases made. –AN