Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2010 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 7.5 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.6g/l H2S04 |
| pH : | 3.4 |
| Yield : | 35 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2012-2029+ |
| Average age of vines : | 47 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Sedimentary volcanic rocks (Tuffs & Grauwake), South facing, Very steep slope |
Description of the wine Riesling Clos Saint Urbain Rangen de Thann Grand Cru 2009
The Rangen was partially replanted in the 50s and 60s (very well indeed by the previous owner of the Clos Saint Urbain) and it is these vines that were used to produce this wine. The Rangen is very steep, sometimes above 100% slope, and its south facing volcanic soil reacts dramatically well to intense sunshine. Having flowered much later than any of our other vineyard in 2009, the September sunshine actually helped this vineyard to finish ripening the grapes so by October the harvest was ripe and healthy for the Riesling. This was one of the fastest wine to ferment through, basically dry, but with the roundness of small concentrated yields.
Tasting notes
2/2011: the nose shows the strong personality of the volcanic soil: flint stone, pencil lead, powdered rock, nicely balanced with more fruity aromas typical of the vintage. The palate is ample, quite rich, unctuous, showing a nice ripeness and again, typical volcanic flavours. The saline quality of this vineyard is perhaps attenuated in 2009 by the solar character of the vintage, which makes the Rangen perhaps more approachable in its youth than most recent vintages. Further ageing will however continue to improve the wine!
The Clos Saint Urbain, Grand Cru Rangen from Thann
The Rangen de Thann is the most southerly of the Alsace vineyards. In his book « Where Alsace wines ripen », Henry Riegert writes: « from the Middle Ages those wines which ripen on the Rangen hillside figure amongst the most famous growths of the whole vineyard region ». The Grand Cru Rangen de Thann, is situated at the exit of the valley, overlooking the village of Thann with the river Thur passing at the foot of the slope.