History

Christine Schlumberger (1894-1971) looked with talent and firmness after the management of Domaines Schlumberger during nearly twenty years. The Late Harvest (Vendanges Tardives-appellation since 1984) are wines harvested in overmaturity, several weeks after the harvest. COntrary to certain types of sweet wines, they maintain a freshness and natural acidity with a flavour that is unique in the world.

Location

Our Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives comes exclusively from our Grand Cru Kessler.

Wine-making

Harvested manually from our steep vineyards, the grapes are then transported in small crates (to prevent the berries from getting crushed) to our winery where they are then slowly pressed. After racking for about 3 days, the perfectly clear juices are put to ferment in tuns where the temperatures is strictly controlled. Fermentations last from 1 to 3 months until spring. The wines are then stabilised, filtered and then bottled.

Gastronomy

Ideal as a meditation wine, I would recommend it with a blue-veined cheese such as the Fourme d’Ambert. Or at the end of the meal, with a white peach soup with Sichuan pepper, an exotic fruit gratin with raspberry coulis and a rose sorbet or a mango tarte tatin with ginger… Serve at a temperature of 12°C.

Learn more about food & wine pairing

Tasting

The robe is golden yellow and intense with light reflections of good intensity. The disk is bright, limpid and transparent. The wine shows concentration and youth.
The nose is marked, pleasant, intense. We perceive a dominant of sophisticated and exotic scents : banana, mango, papaya, passion fruit, blood orange and a floral hint (rose). The airing enhances the previous scents and reveals lemon, apricot, white peach, litchi, spices and candied ginger. The superb over-ripening shows a fascination range of scents. Sensual and intoxicating, it glorifies the great grape variety.
The onset in the mouth is dense, caressing, liquorish. It shows a silky and smooth touch and a full-bodied alcohol support. The wine evolves on a medium of marked vivacity, with a sparkling note. We find the aromas as on the nose, still dominated by exoticism : lemon, blood orange, white peach, apricot, banana, passion fruit, papaya, mango, flowers, rose, spices and ginger. We perceive a hint of savoury bitterness. The finish has a long length, 9-10 caudalies, a frank liveliness and a hint of persistent bitterness. This wine deserves a lot of superlatives. Its balance is stunning ! Controlled liquor, smooth, deep, accurate complex aromas, it has achieved perfection.

Technical sheet by M. Pascal Leonetti
“Best Sommelier of France 2006”

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