Marcel Deiss - Alsace Grand Cru - Altenberg de Bergheim - White - 2020

Wine:

An absolute favourite of our Selection Committee, and rated 96/100 both by them and by Robert Parker, the 2020 Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim White is nothing short of phenomenal. Grown from a field blend of thirteen grape varieties planted on a slab of limestone, this wine is a masterclass in purity and complexity. It opens with luxurious aromas of candied grapes and syrupy mirabelle plum. On the palate, it's broad, dense, and silky, with a rich, almost liqueur-like texture that coats the mouth — beautifully lifted by a dynamic mineral streak that brings balance and freshness. Everything is in place for a truly exceptional experience: depth, finesse, and a grand cru-level finish that goes on and on. This 2020 vintage is sun-kissed without being heavy, generous yet precise, and ready to drink now — though it will evolve beautifully over the next five years or more. A perfect match? Try it with classic foie gras on toast, or branch out into spiced Asian cuisine — wok-fried prawns with lemongrass and ginger, or lacquered poultry dishes.

Vinification:

Hand-picked. Fermented in tuns using indigenous yeasts. Aged on lees for 1 year.
Residual sugar: 73.2g/L

Color:

A bright golden yellow with shades of vermilion.

Nose:

An intensely complex aromatic arc of Mirabelle plum in syrup.

Palate:

rich and silky, with a liqueur-like texture that coats the mouth, lifted by a vibrant yet perfectly balanced minerality. The finish is long, graceful, and deeply satisfying.

Temperature:

Serve at 10 to 12°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Foie gras terrine, wok-fried vegetables and prawns, tarte tatin.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2032

Domaine Marcel Deiss isn’t just a reference in Alsace — it’s a name that stands at the cutting edge of French wine. Under the guidance of Jean-Michel Deiss, now joined by his son Mathieu, the estate produces wines of striking depth and elegance, made for those who appreciate nuance, complexity, and balance.

Farmed entirely under biodynamic principles, the domaine brings out the full character of Alsace’s diverse soils and grape varieties with rare precision. And with a move toward drier styles in recent vintages, the wines have reached new heights — more focused, more expressive, and more compelling than ever. Quite simply, a world-class benchmark.