Zind-Humbrecht | Alsace | Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru | 2017 | 1500ml | bio

Description

Product description for Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2017 (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 found in the dry wines.

Wine Information

Vintage The 2017 vintage will go down in the history of this winery. For Olivier Humbrecht, it is one of the three best vintages since the winery was founded in 1959. However, this time frost and hail limited the harvest to an average of less than 20 hl/ha. After an early bud break, two cold spells with sub-zero temperatures on April 21 and 22 exposed even those more sheltered areas to frost. An unusually icy east wind froze vines in vineyards like the Herrenweg de Turckheim, which had never froze in the 60 years that Olivier’s father witnessed. A hailstorm in the Brand vineyard fortunately had no major consequences. Midsummer was hot, August milder, and harvest began on August 29 with Pinot Gris Roche Roulée, followed by terroirs such as Rotenberg, Heimbourg, Goldert, and others. A light rain on September 2 accelerated ripening. The Rieslings were harvested from September 11, and the harvest was completed with Rangen, Hengst, and Clos Jebsal on September 26. Only Clos Jebsal showed minor signs of botrytis. Vineyard Although the Grand Cru du Rangen is located in the southern part of Alsace, unlike the other vineyards in this region, it is a late-ripening terroir dominated by volcanic tuff and greywacke. The altitude of the vineyard—between 350 and 475 meters—the proximity to peaks such as the Grand Ballon, and the intrusion of the Thanner Valley lead to drafts at the beginning of the season, which are often very cold. Bud break occurs late, the slope is exposed to the wind, and air circulation is also favored by the steep slope of the vineyard (90% on average). This explains why Rangen was the only terroir that suffered almost no harvest losses in 2017. Despite a high planting density, which is found even in the oldest vines at 55 years old, the harvest remains generally low. The volcanic soil, mixed with only a small amount of clay on the surface, requires deep rooting, which draws mineral elements from it but also, and above all, finds a reliable water supply. Fermentation The wine has 4.2 g/l of residual sugar, 3.8 g of acidity, and a pH of 3.15. Fermentation took place over a few months. The harvest was 19 hl/ha.

Colour

Intense golden yellow

Nose

The 2017 Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain opens with notes of gunpowder, smoke, and stone. It still seems quite reserved and engaged in its own development. It is only just leaving the reductive stage and therefore needs some time. At the Humbrechts, it will not be opened before 2022. With plenty of air, smoke and wet stone mingle with still cool, but ripe fruit and some spicy, medicinal notes, almost as if a touch of iodine were involved.

Palate

On the palate, its greatness is immediately apparent, even if all the depth and power still hangs behind a cloud of mist. But much is already present and clear, the floral notes, for example, which you first catch on the palate. These blossoms initially seem freshly picked. Later, however, as the wine drifts across the tongue, they increasingly seem like an infusion, complemented by spice, salty stone, a bright fruit concentrate, and an undeniably present tannin structure. The acidity is present from the very first moment and carries the Riesling along with it. Now the pure power, the seemingly boundless energy, this oscillation between heaven and earth, the deep roots in the volcanic rock and the striving for heaven are revealed. That may sound religious, but that’s how we feel. The wine is sublime, pure, floating, timeless, and incredibly clear and transparent. This is already a great Riesling today, but one with enormous potential for the future.

Copyright Vinaturel 2025

Keywords: Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos-Saint-Urbain Grand Cru 2017 bio Alsace France

Wine Advocate

Score: 97

“The increased risk of spring frost is probably the most harmful consequence of global warming in viticulture,” Olivier Humbrecht summarized, recapping the 2017 vintage that was hardly hit by frost in the night of April 21 to 22. “A vine strongly affected by frost also takes a long time to recover from the shock,” he added, pointing out that “the growth of latent buds only occurred in May, leaving the vines with little energy source.” Heat and drought during the summer and a rather early harvest that was finished in the Rangen at the end of September made 2017 an excellent vintage with a clear and concentrated character. The very low-yielding (19 hectoliters per hectare), intensely yellow-colored 2017 Riesling Clos Saint-Urbain Rangen de Thann opens with an intense yet pure, remarkably coolish and concentrated bouquet of ripe and spicy yellow fruits intermingled with floral and herbal aromas whereas the flinty notes remain discreet this year. Full-bodied and rich yet dry and elegant on the palate, this is a pretty classical Rangen Riesling with fine but vivacious acidity, palatable tannins and a slightly dry but refreshing and gastronomic, vibrantly mineral Rangen finish. The 2017 is not a wine to shine in blind tastings, but it’s definitely a Riesling for chefs and sommeliers who are probably excited to find the perfect pairing of which, I guess, there are many possibilities. The 2017 Rangen is a classic, and it’s probably much better than was expected when harvested. Bottled in February 2019 with 13% alcohol and 4.2 grams per liter of residual sugar that we don’t taste as “sweetness” at all. The wine tastes bone dry and will be loved whenever it is served with the right dish. Tasted in the Pfalz during the Rangen vertical in November 2023 and again at home in March 2024.
Stephan Reinhardt

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