Zind-Humbrecht | Alsace | Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru | 2015 | 3000ml | bio

Beschreibung

Product description for Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2015 (bio)

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

Golden yellow with bright reflections.

Nose

The 2015 Clos Saint Urban Rangen de Thann Riesling Grand Cru from Zind Humbrecht boasts a rich, opulent nose: fully ripe peaches, mango, candied orange peel, and slightly tart notes reminiscent of kumquats or bitter oranges. Spicy aromas reminiscent of myrrh or incense hover above the heart note. Everything is underpinned by wet pebbles and a hint of saltiness. A wine that should be poured upside down into a decanter and aerated for at least two hours. Multi-layered, dense, complex, and, of course, much too young.

Palate

On the first sip, the wine coats the mouth with fine, ripe tannins. With minimalist fruit, it appears austere, yet it exhibits high inner tension and great vibrancy. Despite this disciplinary opening, it is generous with a full mouthfeel: The acidity is broad and underpinned by rich minerality, and despite the warm year, it is surprisingly lean, boasting a modest 13% ABV. A wine that, with sufficient aeration, quietly speaks of the future. Despite all the curiosity: cellar it!

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Keywords: Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2015 bio Alsace France

Wine Advocate

Score: 96

The 2015 Riesling Clos Saint-Urbain Rangen de Thann opens with a clear, pure, stony, pretty pithy and concentrated yet not really fruity or, at least, juicy aroma. The 2015 is stony, saline and dense as well as aromatic yet specific in its lemon-skin notes. “From the middle of June, temperatures rose significantly, peaking in early July at 38 to 39 degrees Celsius for many days, too many days,” Olivier Humbrecht noted in his vintage report. “The absence of rain and extreme heat caused hydric stress problems that resulted in many burned leaves and grapes. In fact, there was more damage from the sun rays than the drought,” he continued. As a consequence, the berries remained “very small and didn’t reach normal size.” From the end of July to the end of August, some rainfall brought some life back in the vineyards, namely in the south of Alsace where the Rangen is located. “These isolated rainstorms explain the heterogeneity across Alsace.” On the palate, the 2015 Rangen Riesling is remarkably vital and fresh, even nervous, with concentrated, always citrusy fruit and a tight and pithy rather than finessed and juicy character. The finish is pure, tight, saline and, in a positive way, astringent and younger than the slightly similar 2019. The 2015 seems to still be on its way and shows up as a still-pubescent vintage. Bottled in February 2027 with 13.2% alcohol. Tasted in the Pfalz as part of the vertical in November 2023 and again in March 2024.
Stephan Reinhardt

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