Domaine Marc Tempe Pinot Noir AmZelle – 2020

This is a remarkably deep, perfumed Pinot Noir with layer upon layer of dark cherry, floral and spice flavours, smooth tannins and perfect freshness. It was aged on its lees for 3.5 years in old Burgundy barrels before bottling. From the warm and sunny 2020 vintage, this is without doubt the best Pinot I’ve tasted from Alsace to date – a positive result of climate change which bodes well for Alsatian Pinot Noir in the future!

Marc Tempé is the most unassuming, down to earth chap but his wines are out of this world! They are wines of amazing aromatic complexity and minerality which beautifully express their grape and terroir. Marc is surely one of the most talented winemakers in Alsace, so it is a huge shame that he has decided to sell his winery this year because his children do not want to move into the business.

As Tamlyn Currin MW so eloquently wrote in Jancisrobinson.com in February 2024:

“The Tempés make spellbindingly beautiful biodynamic wines, but (devastatingly) they are packing up – their kids don’t want to take over the business and it’s getting to the point where the intense physical labour of their work is taking its toll. Seek out and snap up their extraordinary wines before they are no longer made!”