Bottler: Domaine Zind Humbrecht, 4 Route de Colmar, 68230 Turckheim / France
In the glass
Colour
Radiant, deep golden yellow.
Nose
Immense freshness with notes of orange flesh, peach, pear and grapefruit, alongside fragrant blossoms, matchstick, light tobacco, citrusy ginger and fine pepper.
Palate
Fine and elegant with lively acidity, compact minerality and juicy orange fruit; silky texture and multi-layered structure.
Character
An ethereal, vital Grand Cru that, despite 14% alcohol, exudes lightness and grace – a treat for the patient.
Pairing
Walnut crostini with caramelised pear, Moroccan lemon chicken with date bulgur, or Alsatian pigeon with pine honey and black pepper.
Notes
From just 0.5 hectares and around 1,500 bottles annually; the steep, volcanic Rangen Grand Cru, with its southern exposure and proximity to the Thur river, yields an unusually dry, mineral style for Gewürztraminer.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Radiant, deep gold – a wine that announces in the glass itself that it is far more than a typical Gewürztraminer.
Nose
Surprisingly cool and precise for the variety: orange flesh, peach, pear and grapefruit, accompanied by fragrant blossoms, a fine matchstick note, light tobacco and a citrusy ginger freshness with a peppery undertone. An aromatic profile of unusual vitality.
Palate
Here the signature of Rangen reveals itself: vibrant acidity, compact, multi-layered minerality and juicy orange fruit that intertwines with a fine tannic structure. Despite 14% alcohol, the wine floats – silky, light, almost weightless. A feat of strength that appears effortless.
Finish
Long, precise and marked by remarkable freshness. The mineral tension carries the fruit well beyond the final impression.
Terroir & origin
The Grand Cru Rangen de Thann, with its 68 per cent gradient, stands as the steepest vineyard site in Alsace above the town of Thann. On volcanic rock, at an altitude of over 350 metres and situated at the end of a cooler valley, wines of intense mineral depth are born. The river Thur, flowing directly beneath the slopes, tempers the climate and makes the cultivation of Gewürztraminer possible here in the first place – planted in close proximity to the water.
Variety & vinification
Gewürztraminer is the least represented variety within Clos-Saint-Urbain: just 0.5 hectares, yielding around 1,500 bottles per year. The 2019 vintage was harvested significantly later than most other Gewürztraminers, yet fermented rapidly to completion, finishing almost dry – a style that Rangen virtually imposes upon this variety.
Food recommendations
Walnut crostini with caramelised pear, coriander and cumin – the spice of the wine is mirrored in the roasted aromas. Moroccan lemon chicken with date bulgur and aubergine miso – the exotic spicing finds its counterpart in the ginger and pepper notes. Alsatian pigeon with pine honey and black pepper – a dish of similar complexity and depth to the wine itself.
Special characteristics
A Gewürztraminer that defies expectations of the variety: drier, fresher, more mineral than one is accustomed to from this grape. The extreme steepness of the slope, the volcanic rock and the late harvest produce a wine of rare precision and longevity. Those lacking patience are advised to decant it one to two days in advance and enjoy it from large Burgundy glasses. For everyone else: buy and cellar.
