2013 Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos St Urbain
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Tasting notes
From vines that average 51 years old and were extremely low yielding (nine hectoliters per hectare) that year, the yellow-golden 2013 Riesling Clos Saint-Urbain Rangen de Thann opens with a pure yet also concentrated, finely nutty and spicy nose of ripe fruits and crushed flint stones. Still enormously fresh and vibrantly mineral on the palate, this is a very dense and elegant, saline, moderately powerful and age-worthy Riesling that is still too young (or austere) to be fully enjoyed. Bottled in March 2015 with 12.5% alcohol. Tasted as part of the large Rangen vertical in Wachenheim, Pfalz, in November 2023. "In 2013, the climatic conditions made it difficult for the younger vines, so we only kept the oldest plantations for the Rangen," explained Olivier Humbrecht. The yields were thus even smaller than 2012, but this is a concentrated Rangen that deserves some time in the glass in order to fully open up and show more of its potential.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
pH 3, RS 5 g/l. Sedimentary volcanic rocks, south facing, steep slope. Late and cool vintage. Younger vines (35 years) and older (50) separated because they thought the older vines better expressed the vintage in this year when they had to wait a long time for the right balance in the grapes between sugar and acidity. Picked end October. Total production was just 1,500 bottles. Pale gold. Smoky, oily and spiced. Smells of gold. Super-crisp acidity and much tigher than I expected from the nose. A little chewy and firm but not grippy or phenolic. Dense but so fresh. With time, even more smoky. Almost tart. (JH)
About the producer
Widely acknowledged as one of the legendary wineries in Alsace, the wines of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht are nothing short of magical. Certified organic and biodynamic, the estate crafts an extensive range of wines, including many Grand Cru and single-vineyard bottlings.