Domaine Marcel Deiss 'Altenberg de Bergheim' Grand Cru White 2016
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White
2016
Alsace
Alsace
Alsace Blend
Biodynamic
Tasting Notes & Ratings
Grape
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat d'Alsace (white and red), Muscat à Petit Grain, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Traminer, Chasselas, Chasselas Rose.
This magnificent terroir is situated in the heart of a geologic fault with hard Jurassic limestone and Triassic marl. These formations, rich in fossils, have formed a shallow clay-limestone soil that is red (ferrous) and rich in limestone rock, forcing the vine roots to dig deep for nourishment and water. Due to its southern exposure, its distance from the Vosges limit, and its isolation, the microclimate of Altenberg is very warm, dry, and nearly over-exposed. Ripeness levels, often enhanced by noble rot, are exceptional, resulting in a wine whose co-planted varieties are dominated by their terroir.
Tasting notes
A wine with such perfect elegance and lightness... Vibrant, creamy and melted, rich and yet acidic on the palate - where everything is blended in a magical synthesis: grape varieties and clay, winemaker and limestone, fruit and pink sandstone, vintage and depth.
Expert Ratings
96 / 100 James Suckling
This is a very rich and layered white with lots of peach-tart, mineral, spice and almond aromas and flavors. Full body. Sweet. Very flavorful, off dry and intense. A blend of biodynamically grown white grapes from the region. Drink or hold. James Suckling
96 / 100 Vinous
Deep golden-yellow. Orange marmalade, lemon curd, honey, orange zest and sweet spices on the knockout nose. Dense and heavy right now but offering lovely ripe pomaceous and tropical fruit flavors complicated by a touch of herbs. You can tell there is a familial link to Deiss’s Berckem wine; this is not unlike that one, but much richer, deeper and denser. Finishes zingy and fresh, with citrusy acidity nicely framing hints of caramel on the long finish. This is a knockout already, which is atypical; in my experience, you need to wait for this Deiss wine to show its full potential, and I’ve been fooled by it before when tasting it young. But not this time.
More About The Winery
Domaine Marcel Deiss is one of Alsace’s most distinctive and influential estates, located in the village of Bergheim. The Deiss family has been growing vines since the 18th century, but the modern identity of the domaine was shaped by Jean-Michel Deiss, who redefined the estate with a strong focus on terroir expression and traditional Alsatian practices. Today, he works alongside his son Mathieu Deiss.
The estate farms around 30 hectares across Bergheim and surrounding villages, including several Grand Cru sites. All vineyards are cultivated organically and biodynamically, with meticulous attention to soil life and biodiversity. The philosophy is centered on expressing the identity of each vineyard rather than highlighting individual grape varieties.
Domaine Marcel Deiss is especially known for reviving the traditional Alsatian practice of complantation, where multiple grape varieties are planted together in the same parcel, harvested at the same time, and vinified as a single wine. This approach enhances complexity and allows the terroir to take precedence over varietal character.
The wines are known for their texture, depth, and strong mineral backbone, ranging from accessible Alsace bottlings to highly expressive lieux-dits and Grand Cru wines. Domaine Marcel Deiss is widely regarded as a benchmark producer for terroir-driven, biodynamic wines in Alsace.