Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2010 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 14° |
| Residual sugar : | 30.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 2.1 g/l H2SO4 (3.2 g/l Acide Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.9 |
| Yield : | 35 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2014-2031+ |
| Average age of vines : | 30 years |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 3 |
| Soil : | Sedimentary volcanic rocks (Tuffs & Grauwake), South facing, Very steep slope |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen from Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2009
The Gewurztraminer finds its place at the bottom of the steep volcanic hillside of the Rangen. Higher altitude (the Rangen is between 350m and 450m) and more wind exposure can affect the flowering and delay ripeness, so the proximity of the river, on more sheltered slopes, help this grape and allows it to ripen fully. If most of the Rangen is perhaps better suited to Riesling and Pinot Gris, it is perhaps because these terraces near the river are small, and therefore Gewurztraminer is rarer in the Rangen. The Rangen also has the potential to overpower the intense aromatics of Gewurztraminer. Sometimes, too much is too much, and the Rangen is one of the rare Grand Cru vineyards that show its volcanic personality over the varietal flavours. The grapes were slightly affected by noble rot, but the fermentation was quite fast, keeping some sweetness over a rich palate.
Tasting notes
02/2011 : The nose is still closed, barely showing any fruit, such is the importance of the flinty, smoky, gun powder volcanic character. The nose is intense, but does need lots of air to open up. The palate is round, well balanced, long lasting and just like the nose, begs for time. The finish has a saline richness, almost like maritime sea air. Please decant before serving !
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.