The Grand Cru Rangen enjoys a late ripening climate, at the end of the Thur valley in south Alsace. It is a cold valley, and the vineyard is at a higher altitude (350 to 480m elevation). Gewurztraminer likes heat! We would probably not have considered planting this grape in the Rangen, but the previous owner chose to plant a little area right above the river in 1963. Having been able to see how interesting this wine is every vintage, we decided to add another little plantation of Gewurztraminer on the bottom of the clos, again right above the river, which is the warmest and most protected part of the clos. The volcanic soil has an amazing and powerful influence on this aromatic cultivar. It is one of the very rare vineyard that is capable to erase the varietal aromatics of Gewurztraminer. The soil also brings a saline phenolic quality, enhancing the structure of the wine. We used to harvest this wine with lots of noble rot, but in 2022, just like most recent vintages, the grapes were very healthy. Rangen also has wild yeasts selections that pushes the wine to ferment further, often finishing dry.
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