Zind-Humbrecht | Alsace | Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru | 2001 | 750ml

Beschreibung

Product description for Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2001

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht was founded under this name in 1959 on the occasion of the wedding of Léonard Humbrecht to Geneviève Zind, and from the merger of the two vineyards, Humbrecht in Gueberschwihr and Zind in Wintzenheim. The Humbrecht family was already producing wine during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, which comprised less than five hectares in the early 1960s, grew to 40 hectares by the mid-1990s. This includes parcels in Grand Cru vineyards such as Rangen (Thann) and Brand (Turckheim). Olivier took over the estate in 1989. The first Master of Wine in the family, he converted the estate to biodynamic farming in 1999 and is also chairman of Biodyvin. Today, all wines are produced in large barrels with long lees ageing. Botrytis is not present in the dry wines.

Colour

Old gold with amber reflections.

Nose

Popcorn, candied fruit, apricots, dates, and candied lemon peel adorn the nose of the 2001 Clos Saint Urban Rangen de Thann Pinot Gris Grand Cru from Zind Humbrecht with baroque ornamentation. The top note lingers with subtly spicy notes of light tobacco, leather, and mild spices such as mace, allspice, and baked celery. Montelimar nougat and nuts mingle with the impression of wet blackboard chalk. Multi-layered and complex. Pinot Gris on steroids – spectacular!

Palate

Viscous and spicy on the first sip, the distinctive ripeness reveals itself even before the cascade of fruit, which is remarkably modest on the palate. It balances the spicy and aging notes with a subtle residual sweetness, leaving the impression of a masculine wine characterized by the aromas of spices or precious woods. Candied fruit appears more as a means to an end than as a primary gustatory argument. Empty the bottle, fire brigade!

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Keywords: Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2001 Alsace France

Vinous

Score: 93

Bright deep yellow. Smoky camphor, peach and a hint of honeyed pineapple on the showy nose. Enters the mouth fresh, lively and precise, then turns slightly austere, showing noteworthy tannic bite to its orchard fruit and sweet spice flavors. A touch of marmaladey botrytis adds complexity on the lingering, ripe, rich finish. In 2001, high-quality botrytis targeted the Pinot Gris, so that a Sélection de Grains Nobles was produced with the grapes from the vines nearest to the river Thur; it was the grapes from Zind-Humbrecht’s other wines in the Clos that were used to produce the bottling I describe here. Check out these numbers: only 13.6% alcohol, 30 g/l residual sugar, and 6.1 g/l total acidity. Utterly irresistible right now; in fact, I don’t think there is much to gain by holding onto it any longer. I remember first tasting this wine when it was released, and it struck me then as uncharacteristically ready to drink from the outset, but the wine’s iodiney minerality is starting to take center stage from the fruit elements. In 2001, a cold and rainy September had many producers anxious, but the warmest October on record to that point ensured a clean, glitch-free harvest. “This was a rare year in which we were out harvesting in tee shirts, thanks to 28°C days in October,” Olivier Humbrecht reminisced. And at 36 hectoliters per hectare, 2001 was also a very generous year for production by the standards of the Clos.
— Ian D’Agata
Drinking window: 2016 – 2022
Review date: Jun 2016

Producer website: http://www.zindhumbrecht.fr/