Claus Schlumberger, originally from Germany, left for France in the eighteenth century to start a new life. This tanner settled in the beautiful village of Guebwiller. However, Claus felt uneasy there because the village was dominated by monks. He decided to move again, ending up in Mulhouse, a Protestant city with a free and open environment. It was there that he met his wife, and they had no fewer than nine children. One of Claus's sins was Nicolas, who took over the business in 1810. He planted twenty hectares of vineyards and modernized the family cellar. Today, Domaines Schlumberger remains family-owned, and it will certainly remain so for a long time to come thanks to this driven and passionate family.
Classic red Alsace wine
One of the gems of this winery is this beautiful Pinot Noir. The reason Pinot Noir thrives so well in Alsace is because the climate is similar to Burgundy. This is where Pinot Noir originates – not too warm and certainly not too cold. The old vineyards where the Pinot Noir vines are planted come from two different plots. The largest part comes from the Bollenberg plot, where the subsoil consists primarily of limestone. The smaller part comes from the Saering plot, where the soil contains more marl. When the grapes are fully ripe, they are harvested by hand. This can vary by plot. Before vinifying the beautifully pressed juice, a two-week maceration takes place. This is followed by 10 months of aging in traditional barrels, which gives the characteristic fruitiness more body and a more complex structure.
The taste of this Schlumberger Pinot Noir
The stunning and classic end result is certainly something to be proud of after all this effort in the vineyards and the winery. We carefully uncork the bottle, already revealing beautiful aromas. The beautiful, bright ruby red color confirms that this is a Pinot Noir wine. On the nose, we noted aromas of red fruit like blueberries and blackberries. These dominate, accompanied by a slightly floral impression of roses. A vigorous swirl of the glass amplifies these aromas, revealing hints of cherries and blackberries, as well as a subtle green note. The palate is soft and light, with distinct hints of red and black fruit. The long, flavorful finish completes this wine. Be sure not to drink this red wine too warm; ideally, it should be enjoyed at a temperature between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius.
2021
