Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Grand Cru – 2001

Bottling date : Feb 2003; Alcohol:  13.6° alc; Residual sweetness: 30 g/l; Yields: 36 hl/ha; Optimum drinking period : 2005-2025+; Average age of the vines : 32 years; Surface : 2.91 ha; Terroir : Sedimentary volcanic rocks. South facing, very steep slope. Indice 3

Olivier’s tasting note January 2003: “The nose shows typical Rangen aromas : flintstone, peat, smokiness…which are also strongly influencing the palate. Quite unusually for this vineyard, it is already quite open, with intense exotic fruit at this early stage. I expect the mineral flinty character to overpower this wine in a few years. The structure is imposing on the palate, with significant sweetness. The balance will evolve with time towards a drier style.”

Olivier’s tasting note November 2021: “20 years later, the colour is still an intense fresh gold. The nose shows a great mineral and complex flinty intensity. This wine is ageing so well that it isn’t possible to detect the age on the nose. With time, the young exotic aromas have now almost disappeared for a greater influence of the volcanic soil, showing smoky aromas, roasted nuts… The palate is harmonious and finishes now drier on a salty/salivating mouthfeel. The acidity of the 2001 vintage is ripe and well present, giving a youthful structure and making this wine taste more like an indice 2 today (ie it only has a faint hint of sweetness now.) This wine  should go extremely well with poultry, duck, pork… What a beautiful wine today!“

“With his parcel of Pinot Gris in the Rangen, Humbrecht again harvested twice. Those vines closest to the river Thur (indeed only a few yards away) were picked for a Selection de Grains Nobles and those higher on the steep slope were vinified and bottled as the 2001 Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St.-Urbain (indice 3). Less opulent than the Clos Windsbuhl, this effort reveals gun flint, smoked minerals, and ripe pear aromas. Highly elegant, it is a broad yet austere offering loaded with stones, smoke, pears, spices, and apples. This medium-bodied wine has superb balance and length.” 94pts Wine Advocate