Rolly Gassmann Pinot Noir 2019

Winemaking

Rolly Gassmann is a respected grower in Alsace with a long family history of winemaking. The domaine approaches Pinot Noir with the same precision and respect for terroir that defines their white wine program, favoring minimal intervention and natural ripeness to express the vineyard's character rather than the winemaker's hand.

Tasting Notes

This is an elegant, restrained Pinot Noir that opens with bright red fruit—cherry and raspberry—layered beneath subtle earthy and mineral notes with a whisper of white pepper spice. On the palate, the wine is silky and refined, with those red fruits accompanied by a mineral salinity and gentle forest floor earthiness. Fine-grained tannins provide structure without weight, while crisp acidity keeps the wine lithe and balanced through to a clean, persistent finish that lingers with delicate mineral precision.

Producer

Rolly Gassmann is a multi-generational family estate in Rorschwihr, a small village in the heart of Alsace's wine region. The domaine farms organically and is known for meticulous attention to vineyard work and selective harvesting, producing wines across the full Alsatian spectrum—including this Pinot Noir, which stands apart in a region celebrated primarily for whites.

Terroir

Rorschwihr sits in the lower Alsace region, where continental influences and the rain shadow created by the Vosges Mountains shape the growing season. The vineyard soils here are granite-based and mineral-rich, with some limestone influence, conditions that favor Pinot Noir's development of elegance and finesse rather than fruit-forward ripeness. The cooler microclimate allows for extended ripening and the preservation of the acidity and mineral character that define this wine's profile.

Food Pairings

Serve this alongside roasted chicken with thyme and lemon—the wine's silky texture and mineral spine complement poultry beautifully without overpowering it. For something more composed, try pan-seared duck breast with a cherry gastrique or a classic coq au vin, where the wine's earthy undertones and fine tannins echo the dish's depth. It's also wonderful with earthy autumn vegetables like roasted mushrooms and beets, or with charcuterie and aged cheese.