Magnum Riesling Rangen de Thann "Clos Saint Urbain" 2017 Grand Cru Zind Humbrecht | Alsace

In the hierarchy of Alsace's great dry wines, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's Riesling Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain stands out for its telluric power and mineral verticality. Hand-grown on the vertiginous slopes of the Grand Cru Rangen overlooking the commune of Thann in southern Alsace, the Clos Saint Urbain parcel, held in monopoly by Domaine Zind Humbrecht since 1977, rests on dark volcanic rock. Facing due south and rising to an altitude of almost 500 metres, this mythical Alsace terroir produces a Riesling de garde with an inimitable personality. Cultivated biodynamically and vinified without the use of inputs, the wine is aged for a long time on its lees in old tuns to express the raw energy of the Rangen. In this vintage, the vagaries of the weather did not affect the grapes' good ripeness, resulting in a healthy, rich harvest.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : The Riesling Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain from Domaine Zind Humbrecht offers a deep, crystalline interpretation of this extreme volcanic terroir. Its mineral complexity, vibrant structure and saline finish make it an exceptional wine. As Olivier Humbrecht points out, Clos Saint Urbain always delivers an intense, smoky, taut style, capable of maturing admirably over ten to twenty years. The 2017 vintage confirms this lineage, with the dazzling energy that marks the great vintages of this unique place.

The intensity of the volcanic terroir dominates the nose, with rich aromas of gunflint, smoke and wet flint. Aeration reveals fresh fruity and herbaceous scents. A few more years in the cellar will allow the wine to gain in power.

On the palate, the wine is immediately very structured, still a little cramped, but already boasting a dense, superbly complex body. The underlying acid framework carries the incredible minerality of the terroir, from which emerges a strong salinity and a surprising tannic structure. An undeniable freshness emanates from this wine, particularly perceptible on the momentum of the finish. The elegance that permeates the whole makes the palate vibrate, as only Clos Saint Urbain can do in the expert hands of Domaine Zind Humbrecht.