Probst
Evaluation of the Mathier 2022 wines by Laurent Probst. Original article translated into German
The quality level of both white and red wines impresses again and again from tasting to tasting. The quality is never questioned. It is more a question of sense of style (as with the Fendant de Sierre, which is very slightly sweet and appeals more to some than to others…). However, the vast majority of the cuvées on offer are dry white wines. The great cuvées that have made the winery’s reputation have a fidelity to style and a consistency of quality that is rarely seen.
L’Ambassadeur de Domain Diego Mathier 2020
Blend of Petite Arvine, Heida and Ermitage. Matured in barriques, each grape variety separately for six months and then a further ten months after blending. The first nose reveals a note that simultaneously combines ripe fruit (yellow lemon, peach) and a fine and delicate toasted flavor, as well as a very discreet freshness of mint on the nose. The tension is remarkable and the vinosity is almost inconspicuous. This ambassador is very fine, it is fruity, balanced, delicate, taut and long. It is remarkably fine and full of character. This is the top white cuvée of the estate. This is a wine with a very bright future ahead of it.
Price: 43 CHF
My rating: 95 (96) Coup de Coeur
Gemma Cépages Nobles 2019 (fortified wine):
Intense golden yellow color. The nose is intense and powerful with notes of candied lemon, honey, quince, ripe pear and white peach. On the palate, it offers plenty of freshness and finesse, the fruitiness is very present, the liqueur does not dominate. The freshness and digestibility are very present. Very nice final length for this aromatic and delicious liqueur wine.
Price: 29.00 CHF (37.5 cl)
My rating: 94-95 Coup de Coeur
This cuvée has been nominated as one of the six finalist wines for the next edition of the Swiss Wine Grand Prix.
Télygénie Valsar Weiss 2021:
Assemblage of Muscat, Amigne, Ermitage and Heida.
The color is a subtle yellow. The nose is fine and offers a beautiful aromatic intensity with notes of Muscat and fruit. The palate is open, full-bodied, delicate and fresh. It offers a very nice balance and a long finish. It is a wine that is as flawless and harmonious as it is very successful.
Price: 25.50 CHF
My rating: 94 Coup de Coeur
Petite Arvine Les Pyramides 2021:
A subtle golden yellow robe. The nose is somewhat restrained, but opens up on aeration with notes of citrus fruits (yellow and green lemons) and ripe rhubarb. The palate is very typical, with a salty note that is present from the start and lingers until the finish. It is a taut, dry, straightforward, fine and very long-lasting wine with perfect typicity. Very nice feeling of minerality on the finish.
Price: 25.50 CHF
My rating: 93 Coup de Coeur
Heida Les Pyramides 2021:
Matured in barriques for 09 months and has a light golden yellow color. The nose is fruity with notes of yellow fruit and white pepper. On the palate it is open and fresh, fine and long. It is a delicate and salty wine. Its woody note is discreet and gives it an aromatic plus. It is a wine with character. Goes well with a sea fish with sauce.
Price: 25.50 CHF
My rating: 93 Coup de Coeur
Fendant du Ravin 2021:
Golden yellow color of medium intensity. The nose is fine and precise, with fruity notes of ripe white fruit (especially white peach) and discreet lemony notes. The palate offers plenty of freshness and finesse. It is dry and straightforward. The freshness is enhanced by a little carbonic acidity, which is more present in this cuvée than in the other three Fendants. The finish is long and very fresh. It is juicy and mineral, with a discreet hint of salt.
Price: 14.50 CHF
My rating: 92 Coup de Coeur
Cuvée Madame Rosmarie Mathier 2021:
Assemblage of Petite Arvine, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner and Heida.
Bright golden yellow color. Ripe fruit notes and a hint of white pepper on the nose. Fresh, fine and delicate on the palate. A slight sweetness accompanies and rounds off the palate, which nevertheless offers plenty of freshness. It is a wine with a long finish that offers a moderate fullness. The finish is long and slightly honeyed. This is a “mastered classic” from the winery.
Price: 24.80 CHF
My rating: 93
Ermitage Nadia Mathier 2020:
Golden yellow color. The fruitiness is still discreet, with notes of raspberry and apricot, which are currently dominated by the notes of ageing. The wood is also present in the mouth, but without dominating the matter, which is fresh and elegant. Very nice long finish for this typical wine where the freshness dominates the vinosity, which is much appreciated in a warm and sunny vintage like 2020.
Price: 27 CHF
My rating: 92+
Ambassadeur Fumé Gros Rhin 2020 (Sylvaner):
The nose of this wine is unmistakably at the heart of the wines produced at Nouveau Salquenen. It is typical of this cuvée, which has an impressive consistency (I would be very interested in creating a vertical of this wine over 10 or even 15 vintages). On the nose, the toasted wood is prominent, but it does not hide the notes of white fruits (peach) and almonds. In the mouth, the wood is noticeable from an aromatic point of view on the attack. However, this sensation quickly disappears and allows the fruitiness to express itself. Above all, the freshness and balance of the matter is noticeable, which is long-lasting. The wine is complex and proves to be somewhat salty on the finish.
Price: 28 CHF
My rating: 92
Gigolo:
A blend of Chasselas, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc:
Golden yellow color with green reflections, intense. The nose is also intense and clear, with fruity notes of blackberries (white and yellow fruits) and a little honey. It is very fresh and fine on the palate. It is a delicate and honest wine with a discreet vanilla note and a spicy freshness on the finish.
Price: CHF 25
My rating: 92
Viognier Les Pyramides 2021:
Pale yellow color with green reflections. The nose is of medium intensity, with notes of apricot and yellow lemon. On the palate, it is fine and offers a very nice freshness, even straightforwardness. The finish is very persistent and accompanied by a mineral note (flint). This cuvée appeals for its delicacy and freshness, whereas many wines from this grape variety strive for vinosity and mere aromatic power.
Price: CHF 25.50
My rating: 92
Fendant Ville de SIerre 2020:
Pale yellow in color. The nose is discreet, with notes of yellow fruit. The palate shows great finesse and elegance. The matter is open and delicate, mineral. A very balanced and long-lasting wine.
Price: 16.80 CHF
My rating: 92
Fendant de Molignon 2021:
Bright golden yellow color. The nose is pleasant and of good intensity, with discreet notes of honey and yellow fruit. In the mouth, it is less full-bodied than the Cuvée Ville de Sierre tasted shortly before, which is normal as this Fendant is dry. Its mineral character is clear, with a note of flint that is very present in the middle and at the end of the palate.
Price: 16.80 CHF
My rating: 90
Petite Arvine 2021 Hospices de Salquenen:
Light greenish-yellow color. The nose is fine and expressive, typical, with floral notes of wisteria and also citrus fruits (yellow grapefruit). On the palate, it is fine, with a moderate fullness that gives it a very different style from the Cuvée Les Pyramides (from a different vintage, admittedly). The wine has a long finish, a discreet tension and a salty note on the finish.
Price: 17.00 CHF (50 cl).
My rating: 90
Fendant Ville de Sierre 2021:
Light yellow color with green reflections. Beautiful initial fruity aroma with notes of citrus and dried fruit. The palate reveals a very nice freshness, density and minerality. It is rich and fatty, but straightforward, elegant and long-lasting. This is the only Fendant cuvée with a slight residual sugar content.
Price: 16.80 CHF
My rating: 90
The Ambassadeur blanc des domaines is the estate’s top product. At this level of quality and consistency, its price is really very reasonable compared to certain cuvées produced throughout the country. It is also undoubtedly one of the strengths of this winery that it positions itself very intelligently in terms of the prices of its wines. I appreciate the style of the Ambassadeur Fumé, which is also very regular and therefore consistent. The Fendant range with its four cuvées offers something for every taste. The Les Pyramides line is also very consistent in terms of quality. It offers typical and dry wines. One of my favorites of the day is the Cuvée Thyligénie, a remarkable blend of fruit, density in the mouth and freshness.
Red wine tasting Cave Nouveau Salquenen AG at Diego Mathier (August 2022).
The quality level of the wines is once again very impressive in the wide range of cuvées from this winery.
My favorites don’t just include the “great cuvées”. The Pinot Noir Nouveau Salquenen and the Gamay Mephisto have very logically found their place in it due to their qualities and drinkability. The latter two wines are priced at CHF 16.50 and CHF 17.50 from the cellar.
To achieve such a level of quality, there is no secret: it is the work of a whole team, starting with the one that works the vineyards. The oenological team, led by Cédric Leyat (30 years with the company), brings out the best in the grapes that are brought to them.
Folisimo 2018:
An assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was offered for sale after 36 months of ageing. The silhouette of a woman (Diego and Nadia have 5 daughters) for the label. When she is upside down, it is the Matterhorn and also Saa-Fee. Dark red robe with black reflections. The nose is fine, intense and complex with notes of black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry, cherry. You can also feel the wood, but it remains discreet. In the mouth, it is a powerful wine with melted tannins that offers a very nice freshness considering the vintage. The tannins are very fine and tight, they are powerful, fat, without any harshness. The wine is fine, fresh, young and concentrated. It is very long. Great potential.
Price: 95 CHF
My rating: 96-97 Coup de Coeur
Syrah Diego Mathier 2019:
Dark red color. The nose is open, intense and fruity, with notes of black fruits with a smoky and bacony character accompanying the fruit. The wood is evident on the nose when the wine is aerated and stirred in the glass. The mouth is rich and concentrated and above all very fresh. The finish is open, long and peppery. It is a typical wine with character.
Price: 33.00 CHF
My rating: 94-95 Coup de Coeur
Pinot Noir L’Ambassadeur de Domain Diego Mathier 2019:
Dark ruby red. The first nose is intense, with notes of black (blackberry) and red fruits (cherry and raspberry), as well as discreet woody notes (toasted-toasty). The mouth offers a lot of freshness from the first moment, which balances the matter from the beginning and makes it very seductive. The wine is fat and powerful, but without excessive vinosity. It is very fine and long, also a little mineral. It is a very nice success.
Price: 43 CHF
My rating: 94-95 Coup de Coeur
Cabernet Sauvignon Adrian Mathier 2020:
Dark, slightly shiny robe. The nose is fine and intense. It is precise, with notes of spices, pepper and black fruits (cherry and blackberry).
It is not very dense on the palate, but powerful and above all balanced and fresh. The tannins are ripe, very fine and delicate. It is a very refined wine with a long finish, in which the fruitiness always dominates the woody character of the ageing. Very nice length on the finish.
Price: 35.00 CHF
My rating: 94 Coup de Coeur
Pinot Noir Nouveau Salquenen 2021:
Intense ruby red color. The nose is open, with notes of red fruit and fresh mint. On the palate, lots of finesse and delicacy, very fine and supple tannins. Very nice balance and a long finish. This is a wine that offers a great deal of openness and naturalness. It is a pleasure to drink and offers excellent value for money. A smoky note adds complexity.
Price: 16.50 CHF
My rating: 93 Coup de Coeur
Pinot Noir de Salquenen Réserve de la famille 2019:
Intense, deep ruby red color. The nose is intense and fruity, with notes of blackberries and blackcurrants. The palate is just as fruity as the nose. It offers a beautiful depth of texture without denying its freshness and delicious character.
A long finish for this wine, which offers a high density in the mouth. A very nice wine to wait another two or three years for.
Price: 29.00 CHF
My rating: 92 (94) Coup de Coeur
Gamay Mephisto:
Deep ruby red color with light reflections on the edge of the glass. The nose is typical, with notes of black fruit (cherry, blackberry), smoke and undergrowth. It offers a very nice intensity. The mouth, without being very dense, combines fruitiness, finesse and freshness without lacking density. It is a palatable Gamay with a very nice openness and sapidity. It has a hint of minerality in the mouth that gives it complexity. Nice length at the end.
Price: 17.50 CHF
My rating: 92 Coup de Coeur
Merlot Nadia Mathier 2020:
Matured for 11 months in barriques. Dark, ruby red color. The nose is fine, with fruity notes of raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants. The palate is open and rich. Its tannins are dense and fine, even though it is still very young. The finish is peppery (black pepper). It gives a lot of character to this wine, which you should wait a little longer for, as the wood still dominates the matter today.
Price: 33.00 CHF
My rating: 93
Gigolo red wine:
Assemblage of Syrah, Cabernet, Pinot Noir and Gamay. Matured in tanks.
Deep dark red color. The nose is immediately fruity and very frank, with notes of black fruits. The mouth is dense and offers above all a magnificent freshness and a quality of very fine tannins. The latter are fat and melted, without any harshness. Beautiful length on the finish.
Price: CHF 25
My rating: 92-93
Merlot Les Pyramides 2020:
Beautiful dark red color of medium intensity. After aeration, the nose shows generous fruit and intensity. The palate is pleasant and fresh without lacking density, finesse and balance. A long, delicate, very successful wine.
Price: CHF 25.50
My rating: 93
Humagne Rouge Ferdinand Mathier 2020:
Ruby red color of medium intensity. Notes of black fruit on the nose. Cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant. On the palate, it is open and typical, even straightforward, the tannins are fine and delicate. This is a Humagne that offers both harmony and character. The finish is slightly woody and long, with notes of dried leaves. 09 months in barriques:
Price: 30.00 CHF.
My rating: 92 (94)
Cuvée Madame Rosmarie Mathier 2020:
Assemblage of Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot Noir, aged for 9 months in barriques). Dark red color with light reflections. Intense nose with fruity and woody notes. On the palate it is dense, balanced and carried by ripe, fat, melted tannins. You can feel freshness and no heaviness. A still young wine that deserves to wait 2 or even 3 years to be properly enjoyed. The wood is still somewhat present in the mouth, but integrated.
Price: 24.80 CHF
My rating: 92
Syrah Les Pyramides 2020:
Dark red robe. The nose is very fine and delicate, fruity, with notes of red fruits: especially raspberry and strawberry. The palate is open, full-bodied and melting. Its tannins are very fine. It is a beautiful wine with medium fullness, but balanced and long.
Price: 25.50 CHF
My rating: 92
Cornalin Adrian Mathier 2019:
Beautiful deep red color. The nose is of medium intensity and shows that it needs a little air to express itself better. Notes of black fruits are present on the nose (cherry and blackberry) and dominate the wood, which is more present in the mouth. Very nice length on the finish. The quality of the tannins is remarkable, firm and dense but not hard. Nice length on the finish.
Price: 35.00 CHF
My rating: 92
Pinot Noir Ambassadeur from the Domaines Diego Mathier 2020:
Ruby red color. Fine nose with notes of black fruit and toasted wood. The palate is dense, fresh and somewhat woody. Nice long finish for this young and powerful wine, which is characterized by the sunny character of its vintage.
Price: 43 CHF
My rating: 92
Cornalin Les Pyramides 2020:
Beautiful matt dark red color. A strong chocolate character on the nose. Open and delicate on the palate, fresh, long. Typical with a peppery character on the finish.
Price: 25.50 CHF.
My rating: 91
Thélygénie Rouge 2020:
An assemblage of Syrah, Cabernet, Gamaret, Diolinoir and Ancelotta, aged for 09 months in barriques. The color is a dark red. The nose is fruity with notes of black fruits (elderberry, cherry and blackberry). On the palate, it is dense and powerful, characterized by the richness of its vintage. The tannins are fine and melted, fat. Beautiful length on the finish. This is a wine to wait two or even three years for the wood notes to meld.
Price: 27.00 CHF
My rating: 91
Pinot Noir Non Filtré Oskar Mathier 2020:
Light ruby red color. The nose is fine with notes of black fruits (cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant). On the palate, it is fresh and supple, fine but with a smoky character that adds complexity and minerality to this pleasant and long-lasting wine.
Price: 22.50 CHF
My rating: 91
Pinot Noir Lucifer 2020:
Ruby red color of medium intensity. Notes of black fruit (blackberry) and fruit stones on the nose. Fine, supple and fresh on the palate. It makes up for its lack of concentration with a masculine and delicious character. Nice length on the finish.
Price: 18.50 CHF.
My rating: 90
Pinot Noir Réserve de Salquenen Les Pyramides 2019:
Ruby red color. Intense nose with notes of black fruits, cassis, blackberries and tomato leaves. Discreet volume on the palate. It is open and supple, balanced and long.
Price: CHF 25.50
My rating: 90
Humagne Rouge 2020 Les Pyramides:
The nose is discreet, with notes of cherry and undergrowth. The color is red with medium intensity. The palate is crisp and crunchy, light, fruity and pleasant due to the presence of fruit. Nice length on the finish.
Price: CHF 25.50
My rating: 88
The least that can be said is that no one in Diego Mathier’s Nouveau Salquenen AG cellar seems to be resting on their laurels (although there are many year after year). There is no doubt that it is no coincidence that this company receives so many awards at national competitions and at the Decanter competition (the world’s most important competition for wines from all over the world).
Bravo!
