2001 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain

With his parcel of Pinot Gris in the Rangen, Humbrecht again harvested twice. Those vines closest to the river Thur (indeed only a few yards away) were picked for a Selection de Grains Nobles and those higher on the steep slope were vinified and bottled as the 2001 Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St.-Urbain (indice 3). Less opulent than the Clos Windsbuhl, this effort reveals gun flint, smoked minerals, and ripe pear aromas. Highly elegant, it is a broad yet austere offering loaded with stones, smoke, pears, spices, and apples. This medium-bodied wine has superb balance and length. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. ||In response to requests from consumers for more information as to the character of his non-Vendange Tardive or Selection de Grains Nobles wines. Olivier Humbrecht has devoloped an "indice" scale which appears on the label of each bottle. This indice ranks from 1 to 5 the perceptible sweetness of the wines, and Humbrecht describes it as follows: "1 is totally dry; 2 is not technically dry but the sweetness is not apparent on the palate; 3 is medium sweetness that may gradually disappear with aging; 4 is sweet wine; 5 is for high sweetness, a Vendange Tardive in richness but without botrytis." Humbrecht is to be commended for instituting this system as it will immensely aid consumers. Wine Advocate.October, 2003

High-toned aromas of flint, honey and earth. Large-scaled, broad and very young; not yet showing its personality. Carrying 30 grams of sugar but not especially sweet. There was virtually no botrytis here, as a pass had been made for a pinot gris SGN. Finishes long and flinty, with an impressive underlying structure for aging. This will no doubt show its minerality with more time in bottle.