Pinot Gris Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2016 (Domaine Zind-Humbrecht)

Cellar for 20 years or more. Decant for up to an hour before serving. When exploring the region of Alsace, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is a name that you can’t afford to ignore. It’s a merger of two great wine-making houses, the Humbrechts from the village of Gueberschwihr and the Zinds of Wintzenheim. From several cellars nestled in the steep hills of Alsace, they craft some of the best Alsatian wines that money can buy. The domaine was founded in 1959, and the enterprising power couple of Léonard and Geneviève Humbrecht acquired some of the best plots of grape-growing land in the region throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The Rangen de Thann are vineyards of exceptional quality, planted on misty hills in Alsace’s most southerly tip. The nose is explosive, in more than one sense. It exhibits notes of gunpowder, flint and smokey aromas. This is all gained from the mineral-rich terroir of Rangen de Thann. After some breathing time, notes of pear, apple and lemon peel will fade in. In the mouth, you will find a slight clinging texture, notes of salinity and an intriguingly complex mixture of citrus fruits and stony minerals. This wine has the potential to develop for a long time. Consider pairing this wine with vegetable risotto, a sophisticated fish dish, or even some tender gamey meat.