2016 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen Clos St. Urbain Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
"2016 strangely combines the characteristics of an early and late ripening vintage," said Olivier Humbrecht, recapping the mild and wet winter and spring (with the vines struggling to finish the flowering in good condition but with fruits that had a long time to mature after the flowering) and followed by an arid and warm summer and ripening period until the harvest that yielded moderate 25 hectoliters per hectare. The almost lime-yellow 2016 Riesling Clos Saint-Urbain Rangen de Thann is clear, precise and fresh on the fragrant and bright rather than dark toned nose that is unusually iodine-scented but also flinty or even volcanic, pairing lemon juice notes with tones of crushed rocks. Vital and juicy on the palate, this is an almost light and yet intense, dense and concentrated Rangen Riesling with fine tannins but the purity and freshness of a cool vintage. The acidity is lively but fine and fresh, and it gives the intense, complex and long-lasting Riesling a limey grip and greenish, tonic flavor on the long and intense finish. The first wine to finish fermenting to bone dry, the 2016 is a unique vintage in this vertical; it is highly stimulating and frisky but also substantial. Last but not least, the 2016 Rangen already drinks superbly well. Bottled in February 2018. 12.8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in the Pfalz Rangen vertical in November 2023 and again in March 2024.
Critic scores
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Alsace Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Riesling Clos Saint Urbain displays a luminous yellow color and a fascinating bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling fruit intertwined with very particular smoky/flinty and spicy notes that add fascinating complexity, finesse and elegance. On the palate, this is a lush, powerful but also refined, finessed and silky-textured Riesling with stunning purity, mouth-watering salinity and great intensity of fruit and mineral expression. It is less powerful than in other years but very elegant and still powerful enough, so very well-dosed and absolutely stimulating already today. Oct 2018, www.robertparker.com
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.