SWZ / Swiss wine magazine

Concentrated, complex, deep, creamy bouquet, candied raspberries, delicate cassis, smoke, liquorice, mint. Concentrated, complex, elegant, fresh palate, concentrated, finely muscular structure, diverse, powerful aromas, lots of fine tannins, concentrated fruit, very long, powerful, full-bodied finish with many back aromas.

|2028 to 2060


 

SWZ / Swiss wine magazine

Concentrated, complex, deep, creamy bouquet, candied raspberries, delicate cassis, smoke, liquorice, mint. Concentrated, complex, elegant, fresh palate, concentrated, finely muscular structure, diverse, powerful aromas, lots of fine tannins, concentrated fruit, very long, powerful, full-bodied finish with many back aromas.

|2028 to 2060


 

René Gabriel

The auction of the first vintage 2013 turned into a Swiss sensation. Ambitious bidders put up to 1,000 swiss francs for a single bottle of this fabulous Pinot Noir ...

The 2015 should also mutate into the “crème de la crème” in the Swiss red wine scene. Because - very high ratings from the most influential journalists are to be expected. The production; two barrels. A total of 585 normal bottles were filled. We are allowed to offer 120 bottles of these exclusively at the wine exchange auction in Bad Ragaz in May 2020. No more bottles are sold. After all, «Privée» also means private!

2015 Pinot Noir Privée, Donatsch: brightening ruby, fine edge on the outside. A stunningly sweet, ripe berry bouquet, which in the second approach initially sprays forest raspberry scent and then reflects candied fruit components. Even the nasal appearance is excessive and intoxicating. Little by little, cherries, cassis and mulberries join the gigantic fruity circle. This pinot drug aroma continues seamlessly on the palate. The body is compact on the one hand, but at the same time literally dances over the tongue. The aroma remains in the middle in the red berry area and polarized with the fine, already integrated acidity with red currants and raspberry jelly. The intensity is demanding, but here, too, this wine manages to convince with grace and balance. In addition to the primarily lavish fruit, there are clear signs of floral features and spice here. This in the form of cedar and other precious woods, as well as a first glimmer of light tobacco. The finale is sublime and shows delicate traces of nut pralines, coconut and vanilla. This Grisons world-class Pinot not only has one foot in Burgundy, but also has both feet in the middle of Chambertin. The potential is huge and yet this iconic Donatsch will always be worth a youthful sin.
«Enjoyment by excitement!». (René Gabriel)

Wine Advocat - Robert Parker

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After the auctioned and now-priceless 2013, Donatsch's 2015 Pinot Noir Malans "Réserve Privée" is only the second selection rather than creation of this über Pinot. It will again be auctioned at the Swiss Weinboerse one day and possibly break the records. Martin Donatsch finds the upcoming 2015 even finer and more finessed than the 97-point firstling. The nose is incredibly pure, fresh and flinty for this warm vintage and reminds me of crushed slate and even lime zests, before earthy notes with superbly fresh cherry and red rather than black berry aromas emerge. Those become more and more generous, intense, warm, complex and concentrated. On the palate, the slightly sweet or licorice-flavored Pinot develops a lush, smooth and a bit sweetish richness, but it doesn't lose its finesse and mineral freshness. The wine shows remarkable warmth and intensity on the finish where the tannins are very fine, fresh and perfectly integrated into the silky, seamless texture. The 2015 vintage comes through only on the warm, intense and more open finish, which is highly aromatic, fruity and powerful yet still fine and finessed. However, at this stage, my score is not quite as high as it was in November 2018 for the 2013. Donatsch fans will bid at auction for the 2015 no matter the price, no matter the score. I hope, though, this is only my first and very early meeting with this cru, of which two barrels have been selected (585 bottles plus magnums). However, only 120 bottles will be auctioned in May this year. Tasted in January and February 2020.

PS: I tasted the wine over a period of 13 days without using argon gas. On the 13th day, this 2015 was simply beguiling: a beautifully crystalline, fresh, finessed and elegant Pinot with a charming, superbly balanced silky layer of red and potted fruits and structured by very fine tannins and very delicate, vivacious acidity. The finish was spectacular in its combination of power, intensity, purity and refreshing mineral length. A friend of mine, Swiss wine critic and glass producer René Gabriel, calls the 2015 Privée "the Chambertin of Switzerland." Readers with deep pockets shouldn't miss it! Or, if you don't want to break into a bank, try it in the domain-owned restaurant "Zum Ochsen."

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| 2022 until 2045

SWZ / Swiss wine magazine

Concentrated, complex, mineral, fruity bouquet, raspberry jelly, raspberry stones, flint. Dense, multi-layered, finely concentrated palate, silky fruit, diverse, dense aromas, finely creamy structure, very long, fragrant finish with many back flavors. Can still improve. 19/20

| 2023 until 2050

Concentrated, complex, profound, fine mineral bouquet, candied raspberries, cherries, fine roasted aromas, fine cedar, delicate dried fruits. Complex, finely concentrated, elegant, closely interwoven palate with dense, fine fruit, delicately creamy structure, concentrated, varied aromas, lots of fine tannins, very long, dense, powerful finish with many back flavors. Can still improve. 19/20

| 2024 until 2050

René Gabriel

Very dark ruby ​​with a purple sheen. For a Pinot Noir this is an incredibly dark color! The bouquet loads and is massive at the same time. From the first second it shows a row of very ripe berries. These dance from raspberries to strawberries to mulberries to cassis. Ripe plums, vanilla, coconut as well as roasted fruit kernels can be found in the second approach. Every time you take this wine to your nose, there are completely new aromas. The almost erotic sweetness is breathtaking, but not jammy. Nuances of precious woods (cedar), freshly roasted coffee (arabica) and fascinating herbal notes (lemon thyme) resonate in the background. The beginning of the palate is lush - creamy - harmonious. In this interplay, the acidity and the tannins are downright addicted to harmony. The perfect balance is there! When slurping, the fruit notes explode, showing freshness and ripeness at the same time. This «Privée» reminds me of my absolutely greatest Burgundy young wine experiences. And he belongs in this world class league without a doubt. But what Martin Donatsch has shown with this unbelievable Pinot Noir: where the new benchmark for the Pinot maximum is being set in Switzerland. When I tasted the wine, I had an unashamedly high level of expectation due to the work of this Malanser Domaine so far. This was once again exceeded by far. Tasting this extraterrestrial wine is what connects me with the greatest pleasure emotions in my life. He is now brilliant and will set himself a Swiss monument in 20 years. Luck for those who were allowed to taste this wine. Or even own a few bottles.

Wine Advocat - Robert Parker

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The 2013 Pinot Noir Malans Privée is a single-barrel selection that stood out in Martin ans Thomas Donatsch's blind tastings of all their Pinot barrels. Bottled for the first time the Privée is deep, perfectly ripe and intense on the nose but highly refined and elegant at the same time, with spicy notes of cloves and red cabbage. What a noblesse! On the palate, this is a highly refined, fresh and finessed Pinot with peppery flavors on the very delicate finish. The tannins are super fine and elegant and interweave perfectly with the ripe and juicy cherry and black berry fruit. Tasted at the domaine in Malans in November 2018. Only 300 bottles of the Privée have been made of which 30 will be auctioned in Bad Ragaz in May 2019. The rest is not for sale but readers who like to try a bottle in Donatsch's Winzerstube "Zum Ochsen" may eventually negotiate with the owners...

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| 2025 until 2040

SWZ / Swiss wine magazine

Fragrant, dense, complex, elegant, fresh bouquet, candied raspberries, raspberry stones, delicate eucalyptus leaves, delicate nougat, flint, red liquorice. Velvety, elegant, fresh, finely powerful, delicately muscular palate, lots of fine tannins, diverse, dense aromas, Burgundy, elegant structure, very long, powerful finish with great back flavors.

| 2020 until 2050