Technical presentation
| Bottling : | September 2009 |
|---|---|
| Acquired alcohol : | 12° |
| Residual sugar : | 64.0 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 6.1 g/l H2SO4 |
| pH : | 3.5 |
| Yield : | 27 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2016-2033+ |
| Average age of vines : | 45 years |
| Grape variety : | Gewurztraminer |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 4 |
| Soil : | Sedimentary volcanic rocks (Tuffs & Grauwake), South facing, Very steep slope |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen from Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2008
The Gewurztraminer takes the smallest share of the Clos Saint Urbain: only 0.5ha, all located the nearest possible to the river to benefit from its influence on the climate (sun reflection, humidity in Autumn, less wind) and the fact that on the bottom part of the vineyard the volcanic soil is slightly richer with more finer elements and clay deep into the cracks of the volcanic mother rock. Again, just like Windsbuhl, this is not an obvious choice in this vineyard, but at the right age and with low yielding massal selection, it proves that some vineyard are capable to dominate so much this aromatic grape variety that it completely loses its varietal expression. In 2008, there was some beautiful botrytis development, not enough to justify the work of a specific selection, but enough to influence the final structure of the wine and its slow fermentation kinetic.
Tasting notes
02/2010 : The nose shouts Rangen with its smoky/flinty combination. It is almost hard to guess the grape on the nose; however, the palate reveals the luscious Gewurztraminer profile with more sweetness and floral notes. There is a huge acidity that firms up the palate and balances the more important sweetness. This is a rare balance for Rangen: lowest alcohol and highest acidity !
The Clos Saint Urbain, Grand Cru Rangen from Thann
The Rangen de Thann is the most southerly of the Alsace vineyards. In his book « Where Alsace wines ripen », Henry Riegert writes: « from the Middle Ages those wines which ripen on the Rangen hillside figure amongst the most famous growths of the whole vineyard region ». The Grand Cru Rangen de Thann, is situated at the exit of the valley, overlooking the village of Thann with the river Thur passing at the foot of the slope.