The Ruhlmann-Schutz estate was officially formed in 1994 when André Ruhlmann and Christine Schutz united their families' vineyards, and is now guided by four cousins of the third generation. They farm 53 hectares in Alsace under HVE Level 3 certification and progressive organic conversion. Based in Dambach-la-Ville, a village known for the hillsides surrounding it and its ever-changing colors throughout the seasons, the estate draws on granite, marl, sandstone, and limestone soils along the Vosges foothills, with a climate that is the driest in France thanks to the mountains blocking oceanic moisture.
This 2023 bottle is a Vendanges Tardives, or "late harvest," meaning the Gewurztraminer grapes were left on the vine well past the standard picking date to concentrate their sugars naturally before fermentation. Gewurztraminer is one of Alsace's signature aromatic varieties, known for its intensely perfumed character, and here it produces a rich, unctuous sweet wine with notes of lychee, rose petal, honey, and candied ginger, balanced by the variety's naturally low acidity turned into a virtue. It's also certified vegan, made without any animal-derived fining agents, so it fits cleanly into a plant-based lifestyle without sacrificing character.
The result is a luxurious dessert-style white, a showcase of just how far Gewurztraminer can be pushed in the right hands.