Pinot Noir: a subtle, elegant wine

Sierre, Valais, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - A wine from Spain and another from Valais are the big winners at the annual Mondial du Pinot Noir wine competition, the world’s only top-level competition for wines made from this widespread grape, held in Sierre. “Cortijo los aguillares”, a Pinot Noir from Ronda, Spain, from the domain of Jose Antonio Itarte and “Malvoisie Flétrie sur Souche”, a Pinot Gris sweet wine made from grapes withered on the vine, from Cave de la Madeleine (André Fontannaz, Vétroz, Valais) were both awarded the Grande Médaille d’Or.

World Champion of Pinot Noir Producers

A new award, World Champion of Pinot Noir Producers, went to a Zurich, Switzerland producer, Urs Pircher from Eglisau, Zurich. The new award is designed to recognize the best producer who, over three consecutive vintages, has continued to make top-quality wine.

Nearly 100 wines were given gold medals, including 17 to German wines, with Germany having the largest number of wines from countries outside Switzerland. Germany was also given the prize for the best older vintage, which went to Schlossgut Hohenbeilstein, Beilstein, Germany for Spätburgunder Auslese Trocken 2003, Württemberg.

Valais and Graubuenden show strength among Swiss wines

Among Swiss winemaking regions, Valais, which is the largest wine-producing region in the country, took 27 or nearly one-third of the medals, but Graubuenden, widely considered to be an excellent area for producing Pinot Noir, was given 9 medals – Vaud had 5 and Geneva only 1.

The competition  attracted a record number of growers for 2009: 1,144, with 40 percent of those from outside Switzerland. Germany entered 140 wines and France 100. Most wines judged are 2007 and 2008 vintages.

The Mondial du Pinot Noir awards ceremony is Friday 4 September in Sierre; it kicks off Vinea, Switzerland’s largest wine fair, which takes over the main street of Sierre next weekend, featuring more than 100 Swiss winemakers and 1,200 wines. Guests of honour for 2009 are: the Colline des Cortons in Burgundy, canton Vaud’s Domaines Clos & Châteaux, and Maurice Gay Vins, the historic winery this year.

Pinot Noir winning wines from the Lake Geneva region:

Geneva
“L’Intégrale” from Domaine les Hutins, Jean Hutin, Dardagny

Vaud

• “Pinot Noir Barrique”, Alain Neyroud and Gianni Bernasconi, Chardonne
• “Epine Noire”, Etienne & Louis Fonjallaz, Epesses
• “Domaine de Sarraux-Dessous”, Bolle & Cie, Blaise Hermann, Luins
• “Saint Saphorin”, Jean et Michel Dizerens, Lutry
• “Pinot Gris St Martin”, Caves Cidis, Thierry Walz, Tolochenaz

Neuchatel

• “Oeil de Perdrix”, Domaine de Montmollin Fils, Auvernier
• “Noëllis”, Jungo and Fellmann, Cressier

Complete list of winners

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