Technical presentation
| Bottling : | March 2015 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 12.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 5.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 4.7 g/l H2SO4 (7.2 g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.0 |
| Yield : | 9 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2018-2038+ |
| Average age of vines : | 51 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 2013
Despite its southern location, the Rangen is a very late ripening vineyard. Both altitude (350m to 450m) and proximity of the Vosges Mountains make it regularly the last vineyard to be harvested. Most years, the dark rocky volcanic soil combined with the extremely steep south-facing slope helps the vineyard to catch up late in the season and acquire astonishing physiological ripeness. In 2013, the climatic conditions made it difficult for the younger vines, so we only kept the oldest plantations in the Rangen. Yields were extremely small, even smaller than 2012 and the result is a vineyard concentrate Rangen wine. It was one of the fastest to finish it’s fermentation, which was surprising because usually the later the harvest, the longer the fermentation.
Tasting notes
03/2015 : The nose shows intense mineral rock influence. There is no denying of the origin here. Still tight and dense, it also boasts strong smoky aromas, typical of this vineyard. Lots of gunflint and smoke again on the palate which is racy and elegant. The small yielding vines have produced a concentrated wine but not exuberantly powerful. One could almost say that there is a nice austerity, almost expected in this style of wine. Long lasting finish with great structure, ripe tannins and acidity. Deserves some time in the glass in order to fully open up and show all its potential. Please keep!
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.