Bottler: Domaine Zind Humbrecht, 4 Route de Colmar, 68230 Turckheim / France
In the glass
Colour
Brilliant, radiant golden yellow.
Nose
Fragrant and finely interwoven with notes of rose, lime blossom and lily of the valley, backed by pear, quince, apricot and mango.
Palate
On the palate, elegant sweetness and juicy fruit meet a firm, smoky mineral spice as well as a gripping freshness.
Character
Compact, weightlessly ethereal, yet simultaneously characterised by immense finesse and richness.
Pairing
Excellent with poppy seed mousse with white peach sorbet, Moroccan m'chermel chicken with preserved lemon, or saddle of venison with duck liver mousse.
Notes
A unique terroir specialty from Demeter-certified biodynamic viticulture on the extremely steep volcanic slopes directly above the River Thur.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
A brilliant, radiant golden yellow in the glass.
Nose
The 2018 vintage presents itself with beguiling finesse and fragrant freshness. The interplay of aromas combines floral notes of roses, linden blossom and lily of the valley with juicy yellow fruit such as pear, quince, apricot and mango – ethereally interwoven and of floating elegance.
Palate
On the palate, this noble sweet wine appears astonishingly focused. A vibrant texture meets a dense, smoky and firm structure that gives the wine immense power. The elegant sweetness melts seamlessly into juicy fruit and a dark volcanic spice that lingers extremely long.
Terroir & Origin
With a 68 per cent slope, the Grand Cru Rangen de Thann is the steepest vineyard site in Alsace. The two small plots of Gewürztraminer are situated in the lower part directly by the River Thur, sheltered below the Clos Saint-Urbain. The barren, volcanic sedimentary soils impart their unique, smoky firmness to the wine and capture the cool valley microclimate perfectly.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Pure Gewürztraminer from Demeter-certified biodynamic viticulture. The cool location often delays budburst considerably in spring. Following extremely low yields, the wine matures in the cellar of Master of Wine Olivier Humbrecht for at least six months on the lees in traditional wooden casks before being bottled.
Food Pairings
A majestic partner for sophisticated gourmet cuisine. Excellent with Moroccan Marasin chicken with preserved lemon, duck liver and vadouvan jus and cumin hollandaise, with saddle of venison with duck liver mousse and port wine fig or as a dessert accompaniment to poppy seed mousse with white peach sorbet.
Key Characteristics
An extreme, monumental wine from volcanic soil: despite its noble sweetness, the wine never feels heavy; instead, it carves its inimitable smoky aromas into the memory with fascinating balance. For optimal enjoyment, this wine should be decanted one to two days before serving and presented in large-capacity Burgundy glasses.
