The 2020 Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urban Grand Cru is a distinguished white wine from the Alsace region in France. Crafted by Domaine Zind Humbrecht, this Gewurztraminer showcases the unique qualities of the Thann appellation and the Rangen sub-appellation. This wine, sealed with a cork and boasting an alcohol content of 15.0%, offers an intriguing profile that has garnered high praise from notable wine reviewers.
James Suckling awarded this wine an exemplary score of 97, highlighting its exceptional qualities. He describes it as "very smoky and flinty with lychee, papaya and star-fruit aromas." Suckling emphasizes the wine's concentration and super-silky texture, noting that it defies the typical massiveness and bitterness often associated with Gewurztraminer, despite its high alcohol content. He praises its freshness on the finish, comparing it to the best 2016 Gewurztraminer but with greater ripeness. He concludes that it has a "wonderfully silky, long finish" and recommends it for both immediate consumption and cellaring.
Similarly, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, represented by Stephan Reinhardt, gave this wine a score of 96. Reinhardt describes the wine as golden-colored with a bouquet of ripe pear, dark chocolate, coriander, and flinty aromas. On the palate, he finds it to be rich, fresh, lively, and piquant with a grapefruit-bitter edge. He also notes the presence of fine tannins and a long, somewhat bitter finish. Reinhardt considers it a "great, powerful and age-worthy Gewürztraminer," pointing out its de facto alcohol content of 15.6% and residual sugar of 2.5 grams per liter.
In summary, the 2020 Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urban Grand Cru is a remarkable wine characterized by its complex aromas, rich palate, and impressive finish. Both reviewers commend its ability to balance high alcohol content with freshness and finesse, making it a standout choice for Gewurztraminer enthusiasts.