Winemaker Notes
Intense yellow color. The Rangen vineyard influence is so recognizable here. The nose is intense, smoky, flinty. There is volcanic dust on the nose. We realize that this is just a way of speaking, but this is the feeling one would get by smelling this wine! The wine covers the palate with a rich saline racy texture. This is an intense and long wine. The acidity kicks in on the finish which is also very dry. Fantastic Rangen! And the more time spend to discover it, the more comes out of the glass. It has so much to say…
The Rangen is the southernmost Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace. However, going south also means a higher altitude. In comparison, the Rangen would actually sit above the Brand in Turckheim! A higher altitude means also cooler temperatures. The cooler weather coming down the valley also explain why this vineyard bud-breaks so late. It is surprising, because the south exposure and the steepness of the slope (90%+) indicate a solar exposition. The soil is made of compacted volcanic ash: hard angular rocks, and like many metamorphic rocks, it contains elements that would produce fine clay when broken down by the soil cultivation and the action of the micro-orgnisms. This clay does migrate deep into the soil through cracks in the mother rock. As the vine ages, the roots go deeper and eventually can find all the nutrients and water reserve constituted by these clay. The volcanic rock also contains an unusual amount of minerals, probably at the origin of the smoky and flinty character of the Rangen wines and their strong saline taste. The grapes were spectacular in 2018. Perfect ripeness, but also perfect fermentation. This vineyard has an unmistakable energy and is capable to transfer it to the wine.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A unique dry riesling with an astonishing combination of mini banana, mirabelle, baking spice and sea salt. Super concentrated and super elegant, this has a level of poise that’s very rare in the 2018 vintage. I love the way the silky finish caresses the palate. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Initial whiffs of flint, apple and smoke dissipate, leaving this wine with a shy, closed nose. The palate still carries residual carbon dioxide that gives a little spritz but all that is just window dressing for a powerful and concentrated core. Yes, there is concentrated lemon, both peel and pith, but a stony expanse underneath makes this profound, smoky and compelling. The finish is bone dry, bracing and racy. Lemon echoes long, carrying stony heat in its cooling breeze.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Somehow, the golden-yellow colored 2018 Riesling Clos Saint-Urbain Rangen de Thann is reminiscent of a matured Champagne on the very first nose, with ripe but also matured and slightly oxidized fruit aromas, here intermingled with lemon and herbal or minty nuances as well as the flint stone tones of the steep, south-facing volcanic clos. Elegant and even with a certain coolishness, the wine becomes a Rangen pretty soon and from a then abnormally dry and warm vintage as well. It is full-bodied, fresh and elegant rather than rich and powerful on the palate, with good mineral freshness and fine bitters on the pure and saline finish. This is an elegant and even fine Rangen Riesling with less generosity and texture than expected but also more thrill and tension.
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Wine Spectator
A tightly meshed white, with an intense spine of acidity and smoky minerality woven with notes of mirabelle plum and yellow peach, pink grapefruit zest, spring blossom and a touch of honeycomb that slowly expand on the palate and through to the lasting, well-honed finish. This shows the firm power of a marble statue, with the details bringing it to life, sculpted by a master. Best from 2023 through 2035.
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.
Small but mighty, this picturesque region in northeastern France is renowned for its white wines produced by passionate families whose winemaking roots span generations and even centuries. Nestled between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, Alsace benefits from a sunny, dry climate and a long growing season. It is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world — one of the many reasons why Alsace rocks!
Alsace wines include dry, mineral-driven Riesling, earthy Pinot Gris, refreshing Pinot Blanc, exuberant Gewurztraminer, elegant Pinot Noir, and more. From traditional-method sparkling wines to easy-drinking AOC Alsace, to complex Grand Cru bottlings from 51 distinct sites, and rich, late harvest wines, Alsace produces a wine for every occasion. Most Alsace wines are single-varietal bottlings and are labeled with the grape name. The region is also one of the greenest wine-producing areas in France, with 36% of its vineyard area certified organic.
Riesling, the region’s calling card, is dry, fresh and floral in its youth, developing complex mineral and flint character with age. Gewurztraminer is known for its signature spice and lychee aromatics. Pinot Gris is prized for its combination of crisp acidity and savory spice as well as ripe stone fruit flavors. Pinot Blanc is an affable food partner or porch sipper. Pinot Noir, the only red grape in AOC Alsace, is now authorized in three Grand Cru areas and is also used for Crémant d’Alsace sparkling rosé. Any bottle you choose will offer deliciousness, pleasure and value that is unprecedented in other wine regions.