Lot presentation

Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg Marcel Deiss (Domaine) 2019

The wine

Founded in 1947 and located in Bergheim, in the heart of the Ribeauvillé fault field in Alsace, this 32-hectare estate produces wines of distinctive character and complexity. Winemaker Matthieu Deiss and his son take pride in standing out through their use of complantation – the traditional practice of co-planting different grape varieties on the same plot – as well as their exploration of geo-sensory tastings. The winemaker runs his estate with passion and authenticity, as well as a great sense of responsibility, following strict biodynamic practices in the vineyard and the winery. The Schlossberg cuvée reveals a lovely golden hue, hinting at an expressive bouquet. The nose is elegant and lively, interweaving floral notes with dried fruit. The palate is fresh and captivating, with eucalyptus tones balancing the aromas found on the nose. The finish is long, lifted by a subtle saline touch.

About the Producer Marcel Deiss

Jean-Michel Deiss, (the son of Marcel Deiss, who established the property in 1949) currently manages the 27 hectares of vines, which are planted on some of Alsace's finest terroirs, including the grand cru Altenburg de Bergheim. Jean-Michel Deiss grows his vines according to biodynamic principles, a philosophy that prohibits any form of chemical treatment and combines an understanding of cosmic rhythms with work on the soil and the vines. The objective? To encourage the vines to develop as deep a root system as possible in the subsoil, thereby giving full expression to the terroir. Despite being an acknowledged master of the art of making single varietal wines such as Pinot Gris and Riesling, this exceptional winegrower has waged a veritable campaign against the traditional Alsace approach of regarding the grape variety as the essence of the wine, and granting negligible importance to the terroir. Thus he has reintroduced ancestral practices such as mixed planting of all of the traditional varieties (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris) on the same plot, with no sorting at the harvest. The terroir then comes to the forefront, free to fully express itself without the omnipresent constraint of a single variety. After years of campaigning, Jean-Michel Deiss finally succeeded in obtaining authorisation for the application of the terms "Grand Cru" and "Premier Cru" (previously reserved for traditional cuvées) to these "vins de terroir". The names of the grape varieties have not appeared on the labels since 2005. More information : Read the article about domain Marcel Deiss on the blog