Zind Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Grand Cru – 2022

Olivier Humbrecht MW’s notes

Bottling date: 1/2024; Alcohol: 12.8° alc; Residual sweetness: 1.4 g/l; Total Acidity 4.4 g/l H2SO4 (6.7 g/l Tartaric acid), pH: 3.1; Yields: 25 hl/ha; Optimum drinking period: 2026-2047+; Average age of the vines: 60 years; Terroir: Sedimentary volcanic rocks, facing South, very steep slope. Indice 1/EU Dry wine.

The Rangen Grand Cru is located in the south of Alsace and therefore enjoys a higher altitude (the Rhine River runs north!). The valley of the Thur River that runs directly under the Clos Saint-Urbain is narrow and deep. All these factors explain why this site is in fact late ripening with a budbreak and flowering aften 2 weeks or more later than Turckheim. However, the steep south facing slope and dark volcanic rocks allows this vineyard to catch up later in the season. The Rangen also benefits from higher rainfall (750mm versus only 500 in Turckheim) which is in fact beneficial for a soil that has an exceptional drainage capacity. The volcanic ash was compacted under the see about 350 million years ago. It is rich in specific minerals (magnesium) and does influence a lot the flavour of the wines. The 2022 vintage shows a balance that is quite dry and tense for a very warm and solar vintage. It can be explained by the fact that Thann enjoys a climate that can be quite different from the rest of Alsace.

1/2024: Pale yellow colour. Restraint nose, profoundly influenced by the volcanic soil: smoke, flint, earthy, which eventually opens to more fruity aromas after a long aeration. Very complex nose but a strong originality and identity. The palate at first appears to have a medium power but builds up to a long dry aftertaste. As often in the past, the Rangen Riesling always manages to hide its power in his youth. Harmonious structure, vivacious acidity which finishes with strong salty flavours, adding to the length of the wine. This wine appears to be delicately chiselled and full of energy in a solar and warm vintage. To keep!

“All the yellow and fresh tropical fruit of the world is packed into this exceptionally complex and mind-blowingly intense wine that pushes the envelope of minerality all the way, and then some. If that isn’t your thing, then get off the bus, but for friends of very focused, stony wines this is a staggering experience. The smoky, salty and spicy finish is really extraordinary. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.” 98pts James Suckling