Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2014

Wine Description for Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2014 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Intense golden yellow with copper-coloured reflexes – a Riesling that already hints at its concentration and maturity visually.

Nose

Closed and powerful at first, this Grand Cru demands patience and air. After generous aeration, a fascinating play of aromas unfolds: apricots and orange marmalade meet honey and delicate florals. Beneath this, an earthy, almost herbal layer of tree bark and yarrow, whilst smoky minerality and cool stoniness hover above everything. A multi-layered, complex bouquet that does not deny its volcanic origins.

Palate

Powerful and demanding. The wine virtually attacks with concentrated yellow fruit, exuberant salty minerality and a precise, cutting acidity. Forceful, compact, uncompromising – a Riesling still far from its optimal drinking maturity. The structure is impressive, the tension electrifying, yet the wine needs time to integrate its harsh edges.

Finish

Long, mineral and sustained with salty-smoky notes that linger on the palate for minutes to come.

Terroir & Origin

The Rangen de Thann is one of the steepest and southernmost Grand Cru vineyard sites in Alsace. The volcanic soils of dark sedimentary rock impart this Riesling with its distinctive, smoky-mineral character – powerful, concentrated and of impressive depth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Riesling from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, farmed biodynamically. The moderate alcohol content of 12.5% vol. and the low residual sweetness underscore the dry, uncompromising style of this Grand Cru.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Salmon with salsify crust and creamed spinach, quail in pasta sheets with foie gras and white truffle sauce or puff pastry tart with smoked Brie and wild mushrooms – dishes that can match the power and complexity of this extraordinary Riesling.

Special Characteristics

An ageing wine par excellence. Those wishing to drink it now must decant it for several hours. It will be at its best in five to ten years – then it will be a fireworks display. A wine for the patient and Riesling purists.