Zind-Humbrecht Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Grand Cru Riesling 2013
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Savor as an aperitif or with simple dishes that showcase the wine.
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Olivier Humbrecht farms his vines at Rangen de Thann on steep, south-facing slopes. He finds that the altitude (1,475 feet at the top) and the proximity to the Vosges Mountains slow down the ripening of the vines; Rangen is the last vineyard that he harvests. In 2013, the younger vines at the site did not make the cut, so this wine is solely from 51-year-old vines on volcanic rock. The low yields of the vintage show in the earthbound intensity of the wine, smoky, moutherwatering, and lasting for minutes. The texture is broad and luscious, but the wine is not fruity. It's herbal (like lovage), flinty, salty, spicy and remarkably long. A wine of the soil, this will need years in the cellar to yield its complexities.
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Wine Spectator
Nectarine, grapefruit and star fruit flavors lead the way in this light-bodied white, followed by savory accents of tarragon, smoke and almond skin. Well-balanced and fresh, with a lasting, minerally finish. Drink now through 2022.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Easily the most important Riesling made on the west coast of the USA, the 2013 Eroica just exudes pure varietal aromas and flavors; perky, with an off-dry personality and plenty of crisp acidity, this one is looking for a plate of shellfish. Light straw color; brisk, ripe apple aroma; medium bodied, brisk on the palate; off-dry, excellent acidity, well balanced; bright apple flavors, with a accent of flowers; lingering finish, crisp aftertaste. (Tasted: October 20, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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Certified Organic and Biodynamic.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
With its fairytale aesthetic, Germanic influence and strong emphasis on white wines, Alsace is one of France’s most unique viticultural regions. This hotly contested stretch of land running north to south on France’s northeastern border has spent much of its existence as German territory. Nestled in the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains, it is one of the driest regions of France but enjoys a long and cool growing season. Autumn humidity facilitates the development of “noble rot” for the production of late-picked sweet wines, Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles.
The best wines of Alsace can be described as aromatic and honeyed, even when completely dry. The region’s “noble” varieties, the only ones permitted within Alsace’s 51 Grands Crus vineyards, are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, and Pinot Gris.
Riesling is Alsace’s main specialty. In its youth, Alsace Riesling is dry, fresh and floral, but develops complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics, and is often utilized for late harvest wines. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Muscat, vinified dry, tastes of ripe green grapes and fresh rose petal.
Other varieties grown here include Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chasselas, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir—the only red grape permitted in Alsace and mainly used for sparkling rosé known as Crémant d’Alsace. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and unlike other French regions, are also labeled with the variety name.