Mélanie Pfister : Pinot Noir "Rahn" 2023

Characteristics and tasting advice for Mélanie Pfister’s 2023 Pinot Noir “Rahn”

Tasting

Appearance
This Pinot Noir reveals an elegant color with subtle highlights.

Nose
The bouquet reveals ripe red-fruit aromas accompanied by delicate notes from aging in oak barrels.

Palate
On the palate, this wine charms with silky tannins and a refined structure. The measured influence of oak highlights the fruit’s concentration, delivering an elegant, harmonious finish.

Food and wine pairing

This Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with red and pink meats such as beef, veal, and lamb. It also goes very well with feathered poultry and cow’s milk cheeses like Brie.

A fruity Alsatian Pinot Noir with beautiful structure

The estate

Founded in 1780 in Dahlenheim, Domaine Pfister spans 10 hectares in Alsace, divided into 43 plots on limestone and clay-limestone terroirs. Mélanie Pfister, the owner since 2008, represents the eighth generation of the family and the first woman to lead the estate. With degrees in agronomy and oenology, she enhanced her experience at prestigious estates such as Zind-Humbrecht and Cheval Blanc. Certified organic since 2021 and farmed biodynamically, the estate produces exceptional gastronomic wines.

The vineyard

The “Rahn” cuvée (meaning slender or lean in Alsatian) comes from the eponymous lieu-dit, located on the eastern slope of the Scharrachberg hill in Alsace. This relatively poor terroir rests on a limestone base covered with loess, with a gentle slope offering exposure that allows for slow, even ripening. This particular configuration ensures excellent phenolic maturity in the small Pinot Noir berries.

Winemaking and aging

The 2023 Pinot Noir “Rahn” is vinified with pump-overs and punch-downs. Total maceration lasts 16 days, followed by malolactic fermentation. Aging takes place in oak barrels that have held 2 to 4 wines for 15 months, allowing the wine to develop complexity while preserving the fruit expression.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.