Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2015

Wine description for Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2015 from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Colour & Appearance

Luminous golden yellow with brilliant reflections – a wine that reveals its maturity and concentration already in the glass.

Nose

Monumental aromatics that demand patience. After generous aeration, fully ripe peaches, mango and candied orange peel unfold, interwoven with herbal-bitter notes such as kumquat and bitter orange. Above this hovers an almost sacred spice of myrrh and frankincense. The volcanic origin reveals itself in wet pebbles and a fine salinity – multifaceted, dense, complex and definitely too young.

Palate

Austere on the attack, almost spartan: A fine-meshed, mature tannin structure – unusual for Riesling – lines the mouth. The fruit recedes, yet the inner tension is electrifying. Despite the warm vintage, the wine remains remarkably lean and disciplined at a modest 13%. Far-reaching acidity, carried by rich minerality, lends it structure and length. A wine that speaks quietly of its future – whoever drinks it now must decant for at least two hours.

Finish

Long, vibrant, with sustained mineral presence. The volcanic signature of the Rangen persists as a salty echo.

Terroir & Origin

The Rangen de Thann is considered one of the steepest and southernmost Grand Cru vineyard sites in Alsace. The volcanic rock characterises this Riesling with its distinctive minerality and salinity – a terroir of extraordinary power and precision.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Riesling from biodynamic cultivation. Zind-Humbrecht vinifies with wild yeast and minimal intervention – the result is a wine of uncompromising authenticity and impressive ageing potential.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Glazed calf’s sweetbread on swede-vanilla purée, zander fillet on creamy leeks with mandarin oil, or surprisingly: smoked tofu with sesame, wakame seaweed and yuzu ponzu – the wine’s salinity and spice harmonises perfectly with umami-rich dishes.

Special Features

A Grand Cru that demands patience. Cellar it and open no earlier than 2025 – better still, later. Whoever drinks it now needs time, air and leisure.