Domaine Valentin Zusslin Red Pinot Noir Bollenberg Luft 2016

Grape

Pinot Noir (100%)

Tasting notes

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Bollenberg Luft comes from the upper part of the west-facing "cru," which has its the roots in Jurassic limestone and is covered by a layer of silt less than one meter thick. The first vintage, 2016, gave pure, fine and fresh Pinot Noirs in Alsace and is among my favorite vintages for red wines in this beautiful and still underrated region west of the Rhine River. Zusslin's Luft premiere shows a ruby-garnet color and opens with a deep, pure and aromatic, fleshy and slightly toasty bouquet of perfectly ripe and concentrated cherries as well as red and dark berries (red currant, raspberries, wild strawberries, black berries) that come to the nose with enormous finesse and floral notes. Utterly silky and balanced on the palate, this is a full-bodied, very intense and dense yet vibrantly fresh, if not dramatic, and highly elegant Pinot Noir whose tannins are silky and completely interwoven with the fine and silky texture and the delicate and, in fact, salty-mineral, vibrantly fresh acidity that gives so much energy and is so stimulating. This is a spectacular, refined, finessed and firmly structured, sustainable and even saline/iodine Pinot Noir whose oak management is nothing less than perfect. The finish is tart yet fine and highly stimulating. This is definitely a wine to try, even for Burgundy fetishists! However, it's very rare: Less than 1,000 bottles have been produced." Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine advocate

Expert Rating

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 96/100

More About The Winery

Founded in 1691, Domaine Valentin Zusslin is one of Alsace’s oldest family estates, now run by the 13th generation, Marie and Jean-Paul Zusslin. Located in Orschwihr, in the southern part of the region, the domaine cultivates 16 hectares of vineyards with a steadfast commitment to biodynamic viticulture since 1997.

The estate’s holdings include some of Alsace’s finest terroirs, notably the Bollenberg, Clos Liebenberg, and Pfingstberg Grand Cru. Here, classic Alsatian grapes — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir — thrive on limestone and clay-limestone soils, producing wines of remarkable purity, energy, and terroir expression.

Zusslin’s wines are renowned for their precision, balance, and ageing potential, with whites showing crystalline minerality and aromatic finesse, and their Pinot Noirs earning growing acclaim for Burgundian-like elegance. Every bottle reflects the family’s philosophy of harmony between vineyard, nature, and craftsmanship.