1997 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos St. Urbain Rangen Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
Dark yellow. Mushroom, orange peel and saffron complement ripe pear on the nose and palate. Very powerful and bitingly dry, this very deep, complex, rich wine is neither especially fruity (“It never was, right from the start,” Olivier Humbrecht recalls) nor sweet (only 5 g/l residual sugar, with 5.5 g/l total acidity and a 3.7 pH). Palate-coating tannins contribute to the wine’s chewy, dry personality. The precise, long finish features notes of flinty rocks and fresh herbs. This powerful wine (15.1% alcohol) is drinking well right now and I can’t see it improving further with more bottle age. The yield was only 26 hectoliters per hectare. (ID) (93+)
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
According to Olivier Humbrecht, the 1997 Tokay-Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain fermented violently for three months. Toasted almonds and minerals are discernable in this full-bodied offering's aromatics. It has stellar focus, precision, complexity, power, and purity in its hyper-concentrated character. This bone-dry, fresh, hugely flavorful (yet lace-like), unbelievably long wine exhibits finely detailed mineral flavors reminiscent of a show-stopping Chablis. Projected maturity: 2002-2020. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 524-1524.
Highly aromatic, flinty nose of smoke, brown butter and sweet corn. Smoky, flinty flavors are deep, generous and mouthfilling. Powerful and quite dry, but has the sheer flavor and extract to buffer its 15+% alcohol.
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.