Valentin Zusslin : Crémant "Clos Liebenberg" 2013

A biodynamic Crémant d'Alsace with mineral notes from the Valentin Zusslin estate

The estate

Located in Orschwihr, in the heart of the Alsace wine region, the Valentin Zusslin estate traces its origins back to 1691, when it was known as “Cisle.” Passed down through thirteen generations within the same family, it sold its wines in bulk until 1970, when Valentin Zusslin decided to bottle them under his own name. In 1997, Jean-Marie Zusslin embarked on a profound transition to biodynamics, which was certified in 2000. Since the early 2000s, his children, Marie and Jean-Paul, have continued this commitment to quality while diversifying production with eaux-de-vie and whisky since 2014.

The vineyard

Le Clos Liebenberg is a monopole of the estate, covering 3.5 hectares at the summit of the Pfingstberg hill. This exceptional terroir in Alsace sits on a sandstone subsoil with some clay veins, offering ideal conditions for expressing the riesling, pinot auxerrois, and sylvaner grape varieties. Biodiversity is carefully maintained here with sheep in winter, beehives in summer, a planted orchard, and restored dry stone walls to support local wildlife.

Vinification and aging

The grapes were vinified separately in large oak casks (foudre) for a year and a half before blending and bottling for secondary fermentation. No external yeast was used; the bottles were inoculated with a starter culture derived from fermenting wine lees and sparkling wine lees. The aging on laths continued for 36 months before disgorgement in May 2015, with no sulfur added at any stage of production.

Blend

The blend of this Crémant "Clos Liebenberg" 2013 by Valentin Zusslin consists of 90% pinot auxerrois and 10% riesling.