Technical presentation
| Acquired alcohol : | 14.0° |
|---|---|
| Residual sugar : | 1.1 g/l |
| Total acidity : | 3.0 g/l H2SO4 (4.5 g/l Acide Tartrique) |
| pH : | 3.7 |
| Yield : | 45 hl/ha |
| Optimum tasting : | 2027-2048+ |
| Average age of vines : | 44 years |
| Grape variety : | Gewurztraminer |
| Terroir : | Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain |
| Sweetness index : | 1 |
| Soil : | Sedimentary volcanic rocks (Tuffs & Grauwake), South facing, Very steep slope |
Description of the wine Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2023
Gewurztraminer is rare on the Rangen. Its presence is mainly concentrated on the lower part of the vineyard, where it benefits from the influence of the river and is more sheltered from the cold winds sweeping down the valley. An aromatic grape variety by excellence, it is precisely its varietal excesses that many tasters do not appreciate. The power of the volcanic terroir gives this grape variety a mineral richness and above all manages to dominate its exuberance. Very often harvested when overripe in the past, thanks to the development of noble rot, it is today harvested healthy, which allows the production of great dry wines. This choice is not only the result of a stylistic desire, but also of a climatic constraint that makes the development of noble rot more difficult. Early development of botrytis, when temperatures are higher, often leads to the presence of grey or acid rot. The 2023 was able to ferment very quickly dry and was aged on total lees until bottling 11 months after harvest.
Tasting notes
01/2025: bright yellow colour. The nose is intense and deep, showing very strong aromas of flint, smoke, almost austere at first, it reveals floral and spicy notes with time. This wine always remains behind the enormous influence of the volcanic terroir. The wine is intense, restraint and long. It finishes dry with a ripe acidity and a beautiful presence of noble bitters. Despite its intensity, this Rangen has an enveloping and racy texture which makes it a perfect wine for the table.
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.