Thanks to my experience in 1976 in the Palatinate region of Germany, a yearlong internship learning viticulture in Mussbach, I discovered the joy of growing several different grape varieties. This makes it possible to offer a wide variety of wines to enthusiasts seeking new discoveries, and also to provide several wines from the domaine to accompany six to eight different courses during tasting dinners.
Tasting notes: medium strong with a bouquet of fruit and aromatic herbs. Occasionally has understated green pepper aromas. Less concentrated, with less tannin and less colour than Cabernet Sauvignon.
Special characteristics / Required climate: budburst and ripening for this variety originally from Bordeaux take place before Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chardonnay
Ripening time : average.
Vigour : average./p>
Tasting notes : strong, fruity, full of depth, medium acidity (oak barrel).
Particularities / Required climate: world wide variety, budburst for this variety takes place before Pinot.
Chasselas
Ripening time : average.
Vigour : average to strong.
Tasting notes : a pleasant neutral wine with a floral, fruitful bouquet. A refreshing, light wine. medium acidity.
Particularities / Required climate: the main white grape variety in Romandie and in Markgräferland (Germany), a nice dessert grape as well.
Dornfelder
Ripening time : early to average.
Vigour : strong (erect).
Tasting notes : deeply-coloured, fruity with a flavour of elder and blackberries. Enriched complexity, delicate tannins, slight acidity, makes a nice assembly with Pinot Noir.
Particularities / Required climate : big loose bunches, firm skin, good resistance to rot, harvest to be limited to the véraison.
Gamaret
Ripening time : early to average.
Vigour : average.
Tasting notes : deeply-coloured, structured wine. Full of tannin with a balanced final note. Some spicy tones. Blends well with Pinot Noir, Gamay or Garanoir to obtain some nice cuvées.
Particularities / Required climate : good resistance to rot despite its early ripening ; ripens just before Pinot Noir.
Keeps well on plant, root stock : average to strong.
Gamay
Ripening time : average.
Vigour : low to average.
Tasting notes : purple red, deep caracter with a bouquet of red fruits, well pronounced acidity.
Particularities / Required climate : main Beaujolais variety. Grows in the districts of Geneve, Vaud and Valais. many clones and selections.
Garanoir
Ripening time: early.
Vigour: average (erect).
Tasting notes: deeply-coloured, smooth and fruity with a flavour reminiscent of Gamay; low acidity and blends well with Gamay, Pinot, and Gamaret.
Particularities / Required climate: bud break occurs earlier than Pinot; restricted to cool areas, often attacked by birds and wasps; good resistance to rot; robust root stock.
Gewurztraminer
Ripening time : average to late.
Vigour : strong.
Tasting notes : strong pronounced aromas, spicy.
Particularities / Required climate : wide-spread in the Alsace. Sensitive to the coulure and to the drying of the rafle. Production : 500 gr per square meter.
Merlot
Ripening time : average.
Vigour : average to strong.
Tasting notes : dark-coloured, fruity, rich and smooth (less in tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon).
Particularities / Required climate : main grape variety of the Bordeaux region. Early budburst and blossoming, risk of irregular budburst and’coulure’.
Mondeuse
Ripening time : late.
Vigour : strong.
Tasting notes : full-bodied colourful wine with a ‘bite’. Ages very well. Notes of blackcurrant, black cherries, figs, strawberreis, raspberries, iris, pepper, prunes, violets…
Particularities / Required climate : a local variety from the Savoy region.
Pinot Noir
Ripening time: average.
Vigour: average.
Tasting notes: originally from Burgundy; fine, aristocratic wine; ruby-red colour with a typical bouquet.
Particularities / Requisite climate: There are 3 groups of clones in Switzerland: French clones (early-ripening with compact bunches and sensitive to rot), Swiss clones (early to average ripening time, with relatively compact bunches), and clones taking an average time to ripen, with loose bunches, high sugar levels, and slightly high acidity.