Technical presentation
| Bottling : | January 2022 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 15.6 |
| Residual sugar : | 2.5 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 2.8 g/l H2SO4 / (4.3g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.6 |
| Yield : | 35 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2025-2045+ |
| Average age of vines : | 41 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | South facing, Very steep slope, Volcanique ( tufs & |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos St Urbain 2020
Of the 22ha of Grand Cru Rangen, only 1ha is planted with Gewurztraminer! The Domaine Zind-Humbrecht cultivates 0.5ha of it on the Clos-Saint-Urbain (5.5ha). This variety is sensitive to cold, especially during the flowering period, and is therefore particularly exposed at the altitude of the Rangen (350/480m) and to cold air currents in spring which descend the Thann valley. This is why our two small plots are located just above the Thur river, on the lower part of the Rangen, where they benefit from the thermal heat released by the river. The volcanic terroir of Rangen is capable of dominating this grape variety, which expresses itself with an aromatic smoke/flint character. Although harvested late, the Gewurztraminer on the Rangen often ferments energetically and often ends with a fairly dry balance, even completely dry as in the 2020 vintage. This variety is usually bottled earlier, but on this wine, we judged that a prolonged aging on lees will allow this wine to better digest its power.
Tasting notes
01/2022 : Intense golden yellow colour. This Gewurztraminer Rangen gives off an unusual aromatic intensity for this grape variety, with a strong influence of the terroir (flint, smoked) but also aromas of green tea, spices, herbal infusion (ginger)… The palate is strict, structured around a noble bitterness and a nice acidity that masks the power of this very dry wine. The finish is long, endless, and persists with a mouthfeel reminiscent of decoctions of aromatic plants. Only the Rangen has been able to successfully produce wines with such improbable balance on such a grape variety !
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.