Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2014 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 13.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 12.9 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.7 g/l H2SO4 (5.7 g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.4 |
| Yield : | 20 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2017-2038+ |
| Average age of vines : | 50 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 2 |
| Available for sale : | Yes |
| Soil : | Sedimentary volcanic rocks (Tuffs & Grauwake), South facing, Very steep slope |
Description of the wine Pinot Gris Grand Cru Rangen from Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2013
The Rangen is the most southerly Grand Cru in Alsace. It is located on a rare volcanic sedimentary formation, only visible in this part of Alsace and the Rangen is the only place where viticulture is possible. Most southerly also means much higher in altitude (350m-450m) and therefore later ripening. However, the extreme south facing slope (90%) and dark rocky soil help to compensate the cooler climate, so high ripeness isn’t rare here. The immediate proximity of the river Thur also helps some botrytis development. In 2013, the cooler climate and later flowering didn’t allow for extreme ripeness, so the Pinot-Gris grapes were harvested healthy and the wine is drier than usual.
Tasting notes
03/2015 : Yellow clear colour. The nose shows immediate and obvious flinty/smoky aromas. It is actually quite intense at this early stage and the volcanic influence is unmistakable. The palate demonstrate how elegant a wine can be if harvested a very low yield, yet still carrying obvious ripeness elements, like a small roundness on the middle palate. The acidity, noble bitterness and strong mineral character make the finish drier than expected. This wine is showing very well at this early stage and should definitely age 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.