By Jan Schwarzenbach, Master of Wine

Tasting Notes

The art of wine tasting is a journey that delights both the palate and the mind. At Cave du Rhodan, we have the privilege of sharing this journey with Jan Schwarzenbach, Master of Wine. Every drop of wine tells a story—from the vine to the glass. Jan has taken the time to taste each of our wines and capture his impressions and expertise in these tasting notes.

These tasting notes offer valuable insights into the complexity and character of our wines for connoisseurs and newcomers alike. From subtle aromas to deep flavor profiles—let Jan Schwarzenbach take you on a sensory journey of discovery through the world of Cave du Rhodan wines.

Fendant / AOC Valais

This classic Valais wine is made from grapes grown in Salgesch and Sierre.

It stands out with an exceptionally expressive bouquet for a Fendant, featuring notes of butter, chamomile, lemon zest, and blossom honey. On the palate, it’s fresh and round, with plenty of juicy fruit. This is no slender Fendant, but rather a wine with dense fruit, complex aromas, and a pleasantly refreshing body. It also impresses on the finish with lingering aromas and freshness.

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Humagne Blanche / AOC Valais

Humagne Blanche is a true rarity, as only about thirty hectares of this variety are cultivated worldwide, and exclusively in Valais.

On the nose, it offers subtle yet all the more intriguing aromas of linden blossom, resin, banana, and melted butter. On the palate, the wine builds in complexity; it starts out subtle and straightforward, then evolves to reveal rich, concentrated fruit, plenty of body, and lovely freshness. Lemony aromas blend with white flowers and salty notes. The wine also impresses on the finish with its dense structure.

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Johannisberg AOC Valais

Johannisberg is the second most common Valais white wine after Fendant. The name refers to the Silvaner grape variety.

Open and diverse aromas of quince, almond butter, white tea, and wild fennel. Straightforward and fresh on the palate, with lovely fruit intensity and plenty of juiciness from fully ripe grapes. The finish is refreshing and long, with an ethereal hint of mint.

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Rhin 13 étoiles (Sylvaner) / AOC Valais

This single-varietal Silvaner—named after the thirteen stars in the Valais coat of arms—is our first certified organic wine.

Open and intense aromas of mint, linden blossom, white tea, and a hint of quince. On the palate, it’s initially light and crisp, but immediately opens up and becomes full-bodied, with warming notes of lemon zest, hay, and dried flowers, as well as a slight salty note. A wine with plenty of tension and a delicate smoothness, striking a beautiful balance between elegance and body, between fruit and spice.

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Chardonnay / AOC Valais

Chardonnay, a variety in high demand worldwide, has been cultivated in Valais for over a hundred years. In Salgesch, we use it to produce a fruit-forward, elegant white wine.

Immediately appealing, fruit-forward aromas with notes of white peach and fresh applesauce. On the palate, wonderfully juicy fruit and a lovely smoothness—all the charm of Chardonnay comes to the fore here. It stands out with a creamy mouthfeel and distinct aromas of melon, a hint of mandarin, and lemongrass. A wine that’s simply a joy to drink.

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Marsanne Blanche Trong / AOC Valais

The Marsanne vines in this plot have been cultivated biodynamically since 2007. The wine is fermented in a concrete egg and then aged in barriques for a maximum of 12 months.

The immediately appealing aroma features notes of lemon tart, wet stone, and toasty oak, along with honey and quince. On the palate, it’s incredibly powerful, with great smoothness and very dense fruit. A wonderful acidity balances the concentration and richness, creating harmony and elegance. An exciting wine with a chalky structure, rich retronasal aromas, and lovely complexity.

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Heida / AOC Valais

In the Upper Valais dialect, “Heida” means “old” or “former.” This variety, which originated in the French Jura, has been native to Valais since the Middle Ages.

The wine takes a few minutes to open up. It has typical spicy herbal aromas, along with hints of licorice and apple peel. Superb on the palate, with a dense, salty, finely balanced body; a refreshing, brilliantly integrated hint of bitterness from orange peel, along with citrus notes and herbal undertones of thyme. The finish is very long and dense—an impressive wine.

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Sauvignon Blanc / AOC Valais

On the nose, the intense and unmistakable aromas of Sauvignon Blanc, with smoky flint, gooseberry, black currant buds, and a hint of passion fruit. On the palate, it’s straightforward, fresh, and crisp, complemented by a delicate creaminess from a brief period of yeast aging. The palate reassuresingly confirms the aromas found on the nose and carries them through to a long finish.

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Petite Arvine / AOC Valais

The Petite Arvine, native to the Upper Valais, was first mentioned in a document dating from 1602. The variety had long fallen into obscurity, but today it is the jewel of Valais white wines and highly prized.

What a wonderful bouquet! Open, expressive, and complex, with notes of quince jelly, pink grapefruit, marzipan, and bitter almond. On the palate, it’s incredibly full-bodied and wonderfully smooth—a clear sign of top-quality grapes. The wine builds more and more juice and intensity, with notes of nectarine and apricot; then the famous saltiness of Petite Arvine comes into play, reining in the unbridled fruit and keeping the wine fresh and crisp. A wine with class, length, and plenty of potential.

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Duet / VdP Suisse

The Kernling grapes come from our friends at the Burkhart Winery in Weinfelden, while the Heida grapes come from our Valais production in Salgesch. This blend results in a Swiss white wine with a friendly character that symbolizes the collaboration between the north and the south.

It has a lovely nutmeg note on the nose, along with aromas of mint and fresh grapes. On the palate, it is intensely fruity and slightly sweet, but then fresh and juicy thanks to crisp acidity. With ethereal notes and passion fruit, it has an exotic and long finish with a finely balanced body.

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Symphonie du Rhodan "Assemblage blanc" / AOC Valais

The Symphonie is a blend that varies depending on the vintage and is aged in barriques.

On the nose, it’s immediate, with abundant fruit aromas of banana, pear, and peach, complemented by a subtle barrique note. On the palate, it’s multifaceted, with skillfully integrated oak notes of butter and hazelnut, followed by white pepper, more banana, and a hint of lemon thyme. It displays lovely tension and a supple structure. The aromatic finish offers plenty of juicy fruit and additional floral notes.

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Melodie du Rhodan / VdP Suisse

Melodie is a light, sweet wine with charm, made from a varying blend.

On the nose, it is direct and clear, with notes of apple peel and yellow fruits. On the palate, it offers balanced sweetness; it is clean and fresh, with an attractive hint of mint and a juicy finish.

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Sweet Malvoisie flétrie / AOC Valais / Set of 6

This sweet wine is produced using noble rot and aged in wooden barrels.

Outgoing aromas of candied fruit, orange, and ginger. On the palate, a burst of concentrated, sweet fruit and fresh acidity. Clear and versatile on the palate, with notes of cantaloupe, a hint of nutmeg, exotic lychee, quince, and apricot. Long and balanced finish.

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Rosécco Fortunella

The Fortunella is named after a sheep that grazed for many years in the vineyard plot where the Rosécco is grown. The wine is made from the Divico grape variety. In 2013, Divico was the first red grape variety to demonstrate high resistance to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and gray mold.

Appealing and direct on the nose, with fruity notes of raspberry syrup. On the palate, it’s lively, fruity, and smooth. A fruit-forward aperitif wine.

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Blanc de Noir / AOC Valais

Blanc de Noir means: making white wine from red grapes. Pinot Noir grapes are pressed quickly after harvest, resulting in a beautiful rosé color in the wine. The rest of the color remains in the skins.

It captivates with intense aromas of raspberry, cassis, mint, ice candy, and licorice. On the palate, the wine is initially beautifully creamy and velvety, then becomes refreshingly crisp. The finish is sleek, fresh, and ethereal—an aromatic wine with good length.

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Sweet Rosé / VdP Suisse

The Rosé doux is made from a blend centered around Pinot Noir and Gamay and has a fairly low alcohol content.

The nose is open and clean, with notes of strawberry and cherry. On the palate, the wine remains fresh and balanced despite its distinct residual sweetness.

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Red Cuvée / AOC Valais

This is a typical Valais blend consisting mainly of Pinot Noir, a significant amount of Gamay, and a touch of Gamaret, which contributes to the wine’s color intensity and spiciness.

Dark ruby red. Intense fruit on the nose with black cherry, accompanied by floral violet notes. Full-bodied on the palate, with polished tannins and juicy fruit sweetness that ensures a pleasant drinking experience. Balanced and fresh on the long finish.

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Perle du Rhodan Pinot Noir / AOC Valais

Pinot Noir and Salgesch—a particularly happy pairing. This pure Pinot Noir is, in fact, the winery’s signature wine and our best-selling wine.

Typical light red color of Pinot Noir. Open and intense on the nose with distinct notes of sour cherry, strawberry, tea, and marzipan. On the palate, it offers lovely fruit intensity; the tannins are finely polished, fresh, and juicy with a smooth texture and well-balanced acidity. The finish is wonderfully aromatic with spicy notes and strawberry jelly, clean and long.

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Pinot Noir Espace / AOC Valais

Espace stands for space, for visions and foresight. At the time, Espace was our first certified organic wine.

The nose is ripe and dark berry-like. On the palate, it’s juicy, quite concentrated, and well-structured—an exuberant wine with power and dark aromas. Black cherry, cassis, mint, and a floral rose note in the lingering finish.

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