Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Grand Cru – 2022

Bottling date: 1/2024; Alcohol: 13.5° alc; Residual sweetness: 1.6 g/l; Total acidity 4.9 g/l H2SO4 (7.5 g/l Tartaric acid), pH: 3.25; Yields: 32 hl/ha; Optimum drinking period: 2028-2052+; Average age of the vines: 59 years; Terroir: Sedimentary volcanic rocks. South facing, steep slope. Indice 1/EU Dry wine.

The Clos-Saint-Urbain (named after the little chapel in the middle of the vineyard) is the only part of the Rangen which is directly above the River Thur. The vertiginous slope is facing south and directly exposed to the valley winds. The valley of the Thur river is deep, narrow, and quite cold being at a higher altitude. The Rangen is close to some of the highest mountains in Alsace. It is a late ripening vineyard that bud-breaks later (2 to sometimes 3 weeks later than Turckheim), flowers later but eventually catches up through the ripening season. The Pinot-Gris Rangen is often the most powerful Pinot-Gris harvested and not that much later than all the other Pinot-Gris on the estate. The Volcanic sedimentary soil is responsible for the incredible original taste of the Rangen wines. The topsoil is covered by rocks, but when doing geologic soil profiles, it was apparent that some roots would plunge deep into the rocks, searching for nutrients and water. Pinot-Gris is not an aromatic grape, it will acquire strong terroir influence but only if the soil has a distinctive originality. Like previous vintages, the grapes in 2022 were ripe and healthy, allowing for the production of a very dry wine.

Olivier Humbrecht MW tasting note January 2024: Yellow, pale gold colour. Very expressive nose having intense smoky aromas, burnt peat, spicy, green tea, vegetal oils… The palate is powerful, dense, intense with an almost oily quality, showing a balanced and tight structure that finishes very dry with an amazing saline acidity. Great length but above all, this wine shows character and a strong personality. A wine that will remain in someone’s memory and will age and evolve for many years!

“Step into this incredible dry pinot gris kaleidoscope and it could be difficult to get out again. Exotic, spicy, smoky, but also with a cool, herbal side, this defies every easy definition. Gigantic, concentrated and crazily vibrant on the full-bodied palate. Totally off the scale freshness at the lightning-strike finish. Although this is from a grape variety that theoretically is low in acidity, it has the highest acidity of any wine from this producer in 2022. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.” 100pts Stuart Piggott for James Suckling.com!