Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2012 1500ml Magnum
The Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2012 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht hails from the steepest vineyard site in Alsace – a volcanic terroir with a 68-degree gradient that yields wines of rare mineral intensity. In magnum format, this dry Grand Cru matures with particular elegance and depth.
Bottler: Domaine Zind Humbrecht, 4 Route de Colmar, 68230 Turckheim / France
In the glass
Colour
Deep golden yellow with greenish reflections – a sign of ripeness and concentration.
Nose
A complex nose of citrus fruits, ripe mirabelle plum and a hint of flint; beneath lie notes of herbs, white pepper and a fine, almost smoky minerality that reflects the volcanic rock of the Rangen.
Palate
Powerful and taut on the palate, with a precise acid structure and salty minerality; the 14% alcohol supports a dense, almost oily texture that gains additional richness from extended lees contact – dry, yet of impressive depth.
Character
A Grand Cru of geological precision and patient maturation – complex, structured and with enormous ageing potential; the magnum format underscores its longevity.
Pairing
Ideal with pan-fried sole fillet with beurre blanc, Alsatian choucroute with steamed fish or mature Comté.
Notes
With a 68-degree gradient, the Rangen de Thann is the steepest vineyard site in Alsace; its volcanic rock imparts a distinctive mineral signature. Farmed biodynamically (Demeter-certified since 2002), the wine matures for at least one to two years in the cellar before leaving the estate.
Tasting note
Character
A Riesling of striking mineral intensity that conveys its volcanic origin in every sip. Dry in style, with 14.0% ABV, it reveals the powerful side of Alsace without sacrificing finesse. The magnum bottle promises a particularly slow, harmonious evolution – a wine for the patient, set to develop further nuance over many years.
Terroir & Origin
With a 68-degree gradient, the Grand Cru Rangen de Thann stands as the steepest vineyard site in Alsace, towering above the town of Thann. Across 5.5 hectares of volcanic rock, wines of unparalleled character are born. Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, family-owned since 1620 and now run by the eleventh generation, cultivates this site using biodynamic methods – Demeter-certified since 2002. Olivier Humbrecht, the first French Master of Wine, works these steep terraces with horses, a testament to uncompromising artisanal dedication.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Riesling finds exceptional expression on the volcanic substratum of Rangen. Yields are deliberately kept low at 30–40 hectolitres per hectare. No wine leaves the cellar before one to two years of maturation; at least six months on the lees provide the texture that makes Zind-Humbrecht wines so distinctive. The 2012 vintage, now with more than a decade of bottle age, is likely to combine its volcanic spice with silky maturity in magnum format.
Food Pairings
The structure and minerality of this Riesling call for dishes with character: pan-fried turbot with beurre blanc, salt-cured pork cheek on sauerkraut, pan-fried sea bass with fennel, or indeed mature Comté. The wine’s volcanic spice is beautifully mirrored in dishes with roasted notes – such as oven-roasted vegetables or sautéed mushrooms. A wine that shines just as much at the table as it does savoured solo in a generous glass.
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