Hugel 2005 Gentil Alsace

Bottle #26: Hugel et Fils 2005 Gentil Alsace

Price: $15

Running Tab: $330

Why do you keep forcing yourself to try French white wines after so many failed attempts, Erin? Well, Reader, that is a good question. The answer is obvious: Because it's wine. They've got all types of flavors, those crazy Frenchmen, so I've just gots to try them all!

Also, I figured going with the Hugel family of winemakers who've been growing since 1639 in Alsace, one of the pioneering families in today's French wine, wasn't a bad idea.

Upon purchasing this wine, I was well-informed on what makes her special. We all know how us ladies like to hear over and over again how special we are so here we go again. Based off of Alsace traditional winemaking, the name "Gentil" denotes the wine's makeup of noble grapes in the blend. The Gentil is a field blend - where her grapes (Gewurtztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sylvaner) were interplanted in the same vineyard. Rows weren't even designated and one vine could be one varietal, the next being another. 

I think this is very intriguing - this process allows the blending, post-picking of the grapes, effortless. The task is already completed for the winemaker once they start the crushing of the grapes, the juices are instantly blending. Also because they share the same soil, the grapes pick up well-rounded and complex characteristics from the surrounding the varietals.

Although not the most elaborate white wine I've had, the solidly golden Gentil blend has a fresh bouquet full of honey, pear and a note of citrus. Some kind of floral undertone comes through, possibly something like orange blossom from the Muscat grape. And to be perfectly honest, I was looking at a tasting chart to pinpoint that note...

The honey aroma gives off the impression that this wine might be sweet, the Gentil stays strong with its title as a dry Alsace white, yet still providing that honey and pear on the palate. The intensity of acidity was medium-low, nothing too shocking, and came off as a centered and succulent blend.

All good words aside, this was a nice table wine, seems like it would be good with crab (mhmm...) but is a little flabby on its own, which we all know is how I usually drink wine. For being what it is, I say drink it. Like most not super pricey bottles I've purchased in the past, the Gentil won't last past the day it was open so unfortunately, you'll just have to drink it all!

Score: 7.