Technical presentation
| Bottling : | February 2012 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 14.2° |
| Residual sugar : | 6.6 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.4 g/l H2SO4 (5.2 g/l Acide Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.3 |
| Yield : | 34 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2015-2036 |
| Average age of vines : | 49 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 Grand Cru Rangen from Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2011
The Riesling vines are spread all over the 5.5ha of the Clos-Saint-Urbain in the Rangen Grand Cru vineyard. Being located at the opening of a cold and higher altitude valley, the Rangen enjoys a late ripening climate, but eventually catches up in October, when the steep slope (90%) and dark warm volcanic rocks allow the grapes to reach a high ripeness level. 2011 was a relatively uneventful vintage regarding diseases in the Rangen and the grapes were harvested perfectly healthy. The climate during harvest time surprised us, because we didn’t expect the grapes to ripen that quickly, but the wine fermented dry after a full year of activity.
Tasting notes
02/2013 : Like most vintages, the nose is unmistakable Rangen, showing intense flinty, aromatic herbal aromas associated with a discreet exotic fruit, signature of 2011. With such a nose, one can only expect a powerful attack that fills the mouth with wet stones aromas and some smoke. The palate is rich, powerful with a good balance that finishes almost on a dry delicate structure. This wine hides its richness and will age very well.
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.