Description
Established in 1691 by M. Jodocus CISLE (former name of Zusslin), Domaine Valentin ZUSSLIN is now run by two generations of the Zusslin family who are following in the footsteps of their forbears. The winery is based in Orschwihr, south of Colmar, and the vines are planted on the slopes of the Bollenberg, Clos Liebenberg and Grand Cru Pfingstberg. Since 1997, the estate has been run in its entirety according to the principles of Bio-Dynamic culture. The vines are mainly worked by hand and a significant amount of time is devoted to caring for the soil.
Tasting Notes
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. [96 points, Stephan Reinhardt – October 2020, robertparker.com]
