Technical presentation
| Bottling : | August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 14.5° |
| Residual sugar : | 4.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 2.7 g/l H2SO4 / (4.2g/l Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.8 |
| Yield : | 45 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2026-2047+ |
| Average age of vines : | 43 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Available for sale : | Yes |
| Soil : | Sedimentary volcanic rocks (Tuffs & Grauwake), South facing, Very steep slope |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2022
The Grand Cru Rangen enjoys a late ripening climate, at the end of the Thur valley in south Alsace. It is a cold valley, and the vineyard is at a higher altitude (350 to 480m elevation). Gewurztraminer likes heat! We would probably not have considered planting this grape in the Rangen, but the previous owner chose to plant a little area right above the river in 1963. Having been able to see how interesting this wine is every vintage, we decided to add another little plantation of Gewurztraminer on the bottom of the clos, again right above the river, which is the warmest and most protected part of the clos. The volcanic soil has an amazing and powerful influence on this aromatic cultivar. It is one of the very rare vineyard that is capable to erase the varietal aromatics of Gewurztraminer. The soil also brings a saline phenolic quality, enhancing the structure of the wine. We used to harvest this wine with lots of noble rot, but in 2022, just like most recent vintages, the grapes were very healthy. Rangen also has wild yeasts selections that pushes the wine to ferment further, often finishing dry.
Tasting notes
01/2024: bright gold yellow colour. Imposing nose with powerful volcanic influence, but also restraint and not yet fully open. Aeration will reveal more smoky/peaty aromas. The Gewurztraminer is completely transformed by this extraordinary vineyard. Dense palate with a velvety mouthfeel, not sweet and structured by ripe tannins. The finish is long and tight with the volcanic classic saline influence. A tense wine that will need some time to show all its potential. A great example of dry Gewurztraminer.
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.