Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2008 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 15° |
| Residual sugar : | 22.5 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 4. g/l H2SO4 (6.4 g/l Acide Tartrique) |
| Yield : | 22 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2013-2025 |
| Average age of vines : | 38 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 3 |
| 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 2007
The Rangen vineyard enjoys some of the most extreme but also interesting viticulture conditions imaginable: higher altitude, late ripening climate, steep south facing slope, aggressive acidic soil made of poor volcanic sediments and harsh work condition. This vineyard has the formidable capacity to concentrate the grapes late in season, when the heat of summer is finished, it feels like August is still on in September and October. In 2007, there was some interesting noble rot development early October. We could have perhaps left the grapes longer in order to produce some late harvest style, but the weather was so fantastic and the grapes looked so nicely ripe, with dark copper colour that we decided to harvest before the wine went too much in the sweet zone.
Tasting notes
02/2009 : The nose is showing a harmonious combination of smoke and flint flavours and some white fruit (pears, apricots). It is a gentle and powerful giant, but very civilized and balanced wine. The sweetness shows on the palate, but thanks to a great acidity and fresh structure, it should blend in very quickly and gradually reveal even more the volcanic character.
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.