Zind-Humbrecht - Alsace GC Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

For three decades one of the models of Alsatian viticulture, this estate tells the story of the Humbrecht family. Léonard, the founder, was a visionary who acquired the best terroirs in the region, including the famous Rangen. Olivier, his son, brilliantly introduced biodynamic principles in the 1990s. And today, Pierre-Émile, who arrived at the domaine with the very complicated 2021 vintage, and who is continuing their work, particularly on the latest Sommerberg acquisitions.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

A tireless ambassador for his wines and the region, Olivier Humbrecht, the first Frenchman to hold the Master of Wine degree, has long understood the importance of work in the vineyard. He converted the estate to biodynamic viticulture in 1999, of which he is one of the best ambassadors, being also president of the Biodyvin label. This type of cultivation has enabled him to get rid of botrytis and reduce alcohol levels. The wines have evolved over the years and now assert a resolutely dry style, and the large tuns patinate them several meters underground. Like all great Alsace wines, they come into their own after a few years or decades of cellaring. Clos Windsbuhl is a must-have, and Rangen de Thann takes its place over time. Pierre-Emile, Olivier's son, has just joined the domaine. The excellence of this production, respected by all, has earned this emblematic estate a fourth star in our guide's pantheon.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain Grand Cru 2021 comes from the famous steep, dark volcanic rock of Rangen, with some sandstone inclusions. The soil is rich in potassium, which buffers the wine's pH, making the acid less strident while giving the wines plenty of power. The oldest Riesling plots are up to 60 years old; the youngest vines are 45 years old. The color is golden. Beneath the reduction lies a spicy smokiness, with greengage and white pepper. There's something fluid, intense, compact and concentrated that seems to have total verticality, sinking into the depth of the rock. The wine has a bright but balanced citric freshness and is clear as a bell. Wait for it, for it will be sensational. The finish is bone-dry and salty (bone-dry).

James Suckling

About the wine:

The mineral dry Riesling par excellence? Incredibly smoky and salty, with a great freshness of Amalfi lemon. Breathtaking vitality and flinty minerality in an incredibly concentrated, medium-bodied palate. Samurai-sword-like finish, hyper-straight and clean. Great potential. Made from biodynamically grown, Biodyvin-certified grapes. Drink now, but preferably from 2025. Tasted at the Zind-Humbrecht Grand Cru Rangen vertical in November 2023.