Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann "Clos Saint Urbain" 2023 Grand Cru Zind Humbrecht | Alsace

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht 's Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain is born on one ofAlsace's most vertiginous hillsides, where the slope reaches a spectacular incline before plunging to the Thuren river below. On Clos Saint Urbain, Domaine Zind Humbrecht 's emblematic monopole located on the lower part of the hillside, Gewurztraminer occupies a tiny area of less than one hectare of the entire Grand Cru, making this cuvée particularly rare. The south-facing aspect, tempered by the immediate proximity of the river, reflects the heat towards the hillside, while providing cool breezes that preserve the balance of ripeness. The extraordinary conditions of this volcanic terroir, made up of tuffs and grauwackes mixed with deeper clays, require exclusively manual work, from pruning to harvesting, which the wine estate doubles up on with biodynamic care. Favorable weather conditions in 2023 enabled a healthy fermentation, carried out exclusively with indigenous yeasts, to produce a particularly well-balanced dry white wine. Ageing for 11 months on total lees reveals a rare analytical profile for a Gewurztraminer, with barely 1.1 g/L of residual sugar. The balance, driven by salinity rather than sweetness, offers a remarkable climatic and geological interpretation of the Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos St Urbain.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Zind Humbrecht 's Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain gives a precise reading of this high-altitude site where dark rock imparts its mineral tension. Clos Saint Urbain is located in the Rangen area, where the power of the volcanic terroir takes precedence over the natural exuberance of Gewurztraminer. In its dry register, this Alsace Grand Cru displays a rare precision and length that will allow it to unfold with impressive naturalness during aging, which can be extended over twenty years or so!

The nose shows the characteristic imprint of Rangen, with pronounced hints of smoke and gunflint rising above subtle aromas of wild herbs and citrus peel. Notes of wilted flowers and a touch of noble spices, typically varietal but far from their usual exuberance, bring an airy sparkle to the wine. On aeration, the mineral influence of the volcanic terroir returns to the fore, with fragrances of heated rock.

On the palate, the wine asserts itself in a fully dry register, with a powerful body stretched by a splendid acid framework. The grape variety's maturity is reflected in the noble bitters that prolong the stony, spicy flavors. A fine salinity gives the finish a racy length and silky texture that imbue the palate with a very gastronomic dimension.