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ALSACE
– GRAPES –
Grand Cru, where the marl and limestone soils add length
and power. Displaying a strong personality, it is a highly
sought-after wine.
DOMAINE SCHMITT & CARRER:
DENSE, CONCENTRATED PINOT NOIR
Sylvie and Roland Carrer, together with their daughter
Anne-Cécile, manage this beautiful 15-hectare family
estate. Certified organic in 2004, the estate mirrors a desire
in 1985 by Roger Schmitt and his son-in-law Roland
Carrer to create one of Alsace’s flagship vineyards. “We
make our wines using very few inputs in a bid to preserve
the inherent characters of the grape varieties and vineyard
sites”, explains Anne-Cécile Carrer. “We approach Alsace
Pinot noir as a full-fledged red wine. It is often considered
as a light red, but we try to counter this stereotype by
producing dense, concentrated wines”. The estate harvests
the fruit slightly over-ripe to guarantee the alcoholic and
aromatic potential that forms the backbone of red wines.
A one-year stint in French oak barrels is added for the oldvine
wines. Pinot noir is now on the estate’s roster of bestselling
wines, along with Riesling and Gewurztraminer. “It
is a variety that we vint with particular care”, says Roland
Carrer, “just like our whites, obviously. With each harvest,
we strive to improve our process. Consumers are generally
looking either for Pinot noirs that are fruity and easy
drinking with good concentration, or denser, richer wines”.
Maxime Mann near a wooden tun used exclusively
for the Hengst Pinot noir with its delicate oakiness
DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER:
INCREDIBLE BENCHMARKS
A few kilometres from the Grand Ballon, which, at
1,423 metres, stands as the highest peak in the Vosges,
Domaines Schlumberger’s vineyards extend over soils
with an outstanding geological heritage. Established by
Nicolas Schlumberger in 1810, this Alsace benchmark has
successfully produced magnificent wines down through the
generations. Grown entirely on limestone soils conducive
to this type of grape variety, Pinot noir captivates the
senses with its minerality and remarkable balance which
promotes ageability. “Our aim is to produce Pinot noirs
that retain the character of Alsace with characteristic
notes of red fruit, weight and structure”, explains Séverine
Schlumberger. “The wines are much better structured
than twenty years ago and can be enjoyed at room
temperature”. High standards require short pruning and
Anne-Cécile Carrer and her father Roland at Domaine Schmitt & Carrer
SPRING 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 55