2005 Gewurztraminer, Clos Saint Urbain, Rangen de Thann, Grand Cru, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Alsace

Product: 20058111003

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Description

The volcanic terroir of the Rangen is perfect for the Gewurztraminer grape and produces wines with great ageing potential. Intensely ripe at the time of harvest, this wine is just a step away from being a Vendange Tardive. A flinty gunpowder character is very much in evidence though it is tempered with white fruit flavours and oriental spices. This is rich, dense and unctuous, yet perfectly balanced. Drink 2010-2020.

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate92/100

Given the wines enormous ripeness and significant botrytis, the wonder is not that the Humbrechts considered labeling their 2005 Gewurztraminer Rangen Clos Saint-Urban as Vendange Tardive, but that they decided against it. At 14.7% alcohol and 47 grams of residual sugar, this is one big wine, whatever else you call it. But, as in all of the most exciting instances of vintage 2005 here, high acidity and extract keep it from being either alcoholically top-heavy or overbearingly sweet. Aromas of salted, air-dried beef, oriental spices, litchi, celery root, rose petal and quince jelly lead to a correspondingly complex palate impression of powerful richness, oily texture, and a striking, forceful finish in which toasted almond and vanilla join the more typical cast of Gewurztraminer flavor characteristics adumbrated in the nose. This will be fascinating to follow over at least a 10-12 year period, although future finesse or elegance would contradict its nature.
David Schildknecht - 29/02/2008 Read more

About this WINE

Domaine Zind Humbrecht

The wines of Olivier Humbrecht M.W. need little introduction, possessing great depth, exactitude as well as generosity…like the man himself.

The Humbrecht family viticultural roots can be traced back to The Thirty Years War of 1620. Today they own forty hectares across five villages in the Haut-Rhin, the southern half of the picturesque vineyards overlapping the Vosges foothills, treasured for its idyllic climate, tapestry of terroirs as much for its half-timbered houses.

The domaine has vines in 4 Grands Crus - Rangen (Thann) 5.5 ha, Brand (Turckheim) 2.4 ha, Hengst (Wintzenheim) 1.4 ha, Goldert (Gueberschwihr) 0.9 ha as well as Single Vineyards; Rotenberg (Wintzenheim) 1.8 ha, Clos Häuserer (Wintzenheim) 1.2 ha, Herrenweg (Turkheim) 11.5 ha, Clos Jebsal (Turkheim) 1.3 ha, Heimbourg (Turkheim) 4 ha and Clos Windsbuhl (Hunawihr) 5.2 ha.

Olivier has arguably overseen the most notable improvements in the estate’s illustrious history: a new cellar in 1992 while retaining the traditional ‘foudre’ oval barrels; initiating biodynamic practices in 1997 (certified in 2002); and the buying of a horse in 2006 to plough the vineyards!

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Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is a high quality white grape which produces classic varietal wines in the Alsace region of France.

It is the second most widely planted grape in Alsace and the most widely planted in the Haut-Rhin where it is particularly well suited to the clay-rich soils found in the Vosges foothills. It is normally fermented dry and produces golden, medium to full-bodied wine with heady aromas of lychees, rose petals and white peaches.

It attains naturally high sugar levels far in excess of Riesling and this makes it ideal for sweet, late harvest wines. These can be unctuously sweet and luscious and the best can last for decades. Rieffel, Hugel and Zind Humbrecht consistently produce the finest Gewürztraminer wines in Alsace.

It is also planted in Germany (specifically in the Rheinpfalz and Baden regions), Austria, the Alto Adige in Italy and to a lesser extent in Australia, New Zealand and California. Gerwürz means spice in German, although this pink-skinned grape tends to produce exotically perfumed rather than spice laden wines.