Olivier Roten Symphonie Pinot Noir

November Box

Olivier Roten, Symphonie Pinot Noir 2018

Brilliant garnet hue

Perfumed cork cherry notes laced with wood spice

Structured and balanced with layers of dark fruit and savoury undertone

About the Producer

The Caves du Paradis in Sierre, Switzerland,

was founded by Alex Roten in 1959.

Today, Alex’s grandson, Olivier, runs the winery and oversees the family’s prime vineyard land in the prized areas of Miège, Sierre and Salgesch in the Valais, Switzerland’s most respected wine-growing region.

Among the twenty or so wines

produced at the Caves du Paradis are the exceptional Pinot Noir from Salgesch and the Cuvée Mélèze, a unique blend of white wines matured in larch wood barrels.

The family embraces innovation while at the

same time upholding local traditions and preserving the natural environment. Olivier Roten is in the midst of transferring all of the family’s vineyard lands to certified organic farming. His focus is on quality and ensuring that his family’s wines represent the purest expression of the unique Valaisan terroir.

Grapes

100% Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is a red skin grape variety originating from Burgundy, France. It is a thin-skinned variety that prefers cool climate vineyards and translates into light to medium body wines with profound aromas and complex layers of flavour, a fairly delicate tannin structure and good acidity.

Pinot noir is grown all over the world – it’s most famous regions outside of Burgundy are Oregon, Sonoma Coast, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and it is one of the key ingredients of Champagne!

In Switzerland, Pinot Noir existed historically in the canton of Vaud under the old name of Servagnin, where there are records of it dating back to 1472, and was later found in the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel from 1775 under the name Salvagnin. In Neuchatel, it has also been known by the names Tecou and Cortaillod since 1754, while in Valais it has become widespread since 1848 under the name Petite Dole. Its wines of international stature offer aromas of strawberry, and are generally fresh and delicate.

Region

Coteaux de Sierre, Valais, Switzerland

The Valais is situated in the heart of the Alps and benefits from a unique Alpine climate with continental influences, which include cool nights, warm days as well as cold winters and warm summers.

These daily and seasonal temperature shifts help create an ideal climatic environment for what we deem ‘perfect grape maturation’ with ripe fruit and balanced acidity.

The township of Sierre and its surrounding growing region is known for its poor, rocky and calcareous or limestone soil, which along with the extremely dry nature of the region, contributes to the overall quality of the grapes and our ability to make incredibly well-balanced wines that with little to no human intervention that are characterized by their subtlety and finesse.

Viticulture

Organic

The « Coteaux » or lower mountain slopes that make up the Valais wine growing region are for the most part south-facing which means that they benefit from decent exposure throughout day-light hours.

While the steep incline of the slopes make it extremely challenging to work in the vineyards, they force all of the vignerons to work strictly by hand, as machines are not able to navigate the intensity of the steep hillside slopes.

Meticulous care along with much time and precision is taken by the Vignerons in the Valais in order to make extremely high quality grapes from this Alpine terrain.

The Pinot Noir for this cuvee is planted at 750 meters (about 2,500 feet) in altitude.

Vinification

Undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tank at controlled temperatures.

The wine is then aged for one year in swiss oak barels before bottling.

Undergoes malolactic fermentation in the barel.

Swiss oak is less agressive than french one and therefore fits perfectly to the Pinot Noir grapes.

Wine Spec

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 13%

Name of Producer:

Olivier Roten

Name of Wine:

Symphonie

Winemaker:

Olivier Roten

Origin:

Salquenen , Valais, Switzerland

Service temperature:

15-17C

Wine & Food Matching Ideas

Duck confit

Lamb chops

Aubergine dishes

Wild mushroom risotto

Thanksgiving dinner

Try it with

Duck confit paramentier

by

Mimi Thorisson

Admittedly this is a classic dish from the Medoc, where the chef lives and rightly suggests to pair with a Bordeaux. However, duck and Pinot Noir are an eternal match and this fine Swiss example is so rich in flavour, softly textured, with a balanced freshness that it needs a hearty yet refined recipe such as Mimi's.

Go to recipe