2023 Pinot Noir Reserve Organic, Trimbach

Trimbach is Alsace royalty — a family house going back to 1626, famous for bone-dry, precise Riesling. Rather less known is that they make a little red, and this organic Pinot Noir Réserve is a lovely, sneakily good example of the northern, cool-climate style of the grape.

The 2023 is 100% Pinot Noir, fully destemmed, given a short cuvaison with a cold-soak start, then raised in large foudres and concrete. Unusually for the house, it goes through malolactic — these are the only Trimbach wines that do — which rounds it out. There's no heavy oak here, so the fruit stays clear. Expect ripe and sour cherry, wild berry and a hint of spice, then a slender, translucent palate with a whisper of smoke, fine crunchy tannins and an earthy finish. After a difficult 2022, the 2023 marks a return to vivid brightness and freshness.

Drink it over the next three or four years. Served with a slight chill, it is a joy.

How to Serve

Serve at 14–15°C in a Burgundy glass. A light chill flatters this delicate, translucent red; no decant needed, just fifteen minutes' air.

Where to Drink It

Mount St Restaurant in Mayfair for a smart Alsace-friendly list. Or The Quality Chop House, whose kitchen loves a chillable red.

Food Pairings

Roast chicken, or a charcuterie board with cornichons. It also handles a plate of choucroute in true Alsace fashion.