Markus Molitor was exposed to the great wines of Burgundy, Alsace, and Bordeaux at a young age. His father's winery, Molitor, managed only about one hectare of vineyards at the time and was a sideline—his main activity was trading in truly great French wines. From this historical connection, Markus Molitor developed an early interest in other grape varieties. He quickly set his sights on a small portfolio of red wines and planted his first Pinot Noir vines in the late 1980s.
Markus Molitor's vineyards are spread across no fewer than 15 vineyards. The largest and most important is the Klosterberg vineyard, located directly behind the winery. Markus Molitor also calls the wines from this vineyard Haus Klosterberg, as he considers them the winery's house wines (without the negative connotations). The Pinot Noir planted here thrives. Due to its location in the Vosges and other mountain ranges, the climate here is slightly warmer and more favorable than in other regions. The style of Markus Molitor's Pinot Noir is therefore quite comparable to wines from Burgundy.
The Pinot Noir grapes from Klosterberg are harvested by hand, destemmed, and gently pressed. After spontaneous fermentation, the winemaker ages the juice in French oak for a full 14 months. When you taste Markus Molitor Haus Klosterberg Pinot Noir blind, it's virtually indistinguishable from a Burgundy wine.
This Pinot Noir gleams bright ruby red in the glass. It's a highly complex wine with considerable finesse. The aromas on the nose are reminiscent of ripe cherries and red berries, combined with soft tobacco, vanilla, and cocoa. The acidity is beautifully balanced, and the palate is exceptionally smooth. It has a complex and long finish. The focus of this wine is on the fruit and the pleasure of drinking, making the aging in oak barrels barely perceptible to the senses.
