At a glance

Producer

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Region

Alsace Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain, France

Grape variety

Pinot Gris

Wine type

White

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Medium-Sweet

Typical price

$70-$120 USD (estimated futures/first release pricing depending on market conditions)

Tasting profile

Primary fruit (pear, peach, orange zest), spice, and smoky mineral notes dominate; rich midpalate, lightly honeyed with volcanic character.

Evolution: Will develop savory, nutty, lanolin, dried fruit, and more pronounced smoky, flinty tones with time.

At peak: Complex, seamless integration of fruit, minerality, and unctuous texture; persistent finish with echoes of spice and earth from the Rangen vineyard.

Structure

Acidity

Medium to high (due to volcanic soils and cool climate)

Tannins

Low (typical of Pinot Gris, but with some extract from the Grand Cru site)

Alcohol

Medium to high (generally 14-15%, varies with vintage)

Aging potential

Excellent – structured for long-term cellaring, capable of 20+ years of evolution.

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2032 to 2040

Optimal window

2028 to 2045

Current status

Barrel sample/just bottled; not yet released for public consumption as of mid-2024.

Current condition

Too young for assessment in bottle, developing structure and complexity.

Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Pinot Gris is famed for longevity and the expressive transformation of volcanic terroir into layered, age-worthy wines. The 2023 vintage, from a biodynamically farmed, low-yield vineyard, is expected to be among the most structured and long-lived in Alsace. Wines typically enter their prime at 8-12 years but continue evolving beautifully for up to 20 years or more.

Food pairing

Rich poultry (duck with fruit glaze), veal, foie gras, Asian-inspired dishes (ginger/soy dressings), lobster, aged cheeses (Comté, Munster).

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 10/10

Vineyards plowed by horse, cover cropping, no systemic chemical inputs, composting, natural yeasts, minimal sulfur; 100% renewable energy in cellars, extensive water conservation, recycled/recyclable glass and sustainable packaging, light-weight bottles.

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is a global benchmark for sustainability: they have farmed all sites biodynamically since 1997 (among the first in Alsace), are fully Demeter and Ecocert certified, and use regenerative viticulture. Packaging uses recycled and minimal carbon bottles. The estate produces renewable energy onsite, recycles water, and is committed to ongoing climate stewardship. Nearly every aspect of viticulture and winemaking is optimized for environmental and social responsibility, making this one of the world’s most sustainable iconic vineyard wines.