Pierre Frick Pinot Noir Physalis 2023

Domaine Pierre Frick occupies a pioneering position in both biodynamic viticulture and natural winemaking. Located in Pfaffenheim in the Haut-Rhin, the estate has been farmed by twelve generations of the Frick family. Jean-Pierre Frick now leads production alongside his wife Chantal and son Thomas, cultivating 12 hectares across a dozen distinct terroirs.

The family's environmental commitment began decades before natural wine became fashionable. Pierre and Annette Frick converted to organic farming in 1970, and Jean-Pierre adopted biodynamic practices in 1981, receiving Demeter certification in 1986. The estate was among the first three French wine properties granted official organic recognition by the state—alongside Nicolas Joly and Eugène Meyer.

Jean-Pierre started producing sulfite-free wines in 1999, and today approximately 90% of production is bottled without added sulfites. The Physalis cuvée exemplifies his philosophy of allowing wines to express themselves naturally: whole-cluster fermentation with indigenous yeasts, no temperature control, no chaptalization, no fining or filtration. Six months of aging on fine lees in traditional oak foudres builds complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

The name "Physalis" references the ground cherry, a small fruit enclosed in a papery husk—perhaps alluding to the wine's delicate, protected character. This bottling represents the estate's most approachable Pinot Noir, blended from multiple parcels to emphasize freshness and immediate drinkability rather than structure and aging potential.

Since 2002, all Pierre Frick wines are sealed with stainless steel crown caps rather than cork, eliminating cork taint risk and ensuring consistent evolution. The estate also holds parcels in three Grand Cru vineyards—Steinert, Vorbourg, and Eichberg—and several distinguished lieu-dit sites.

Discover more biodynamic wines and explore our best-selling natural wines for other zero-sulfite producers crafting wines of purity and character.

Alsace stands apart as the only French wine region where Pinot Noir is the sole authorized red grape variety. While the region produces 90% white wines, the remaining 10% demonstrates that carefully selected terroirs can yield distinctive, terroir-expressive reds when farmed and vinified with attention.

The village of Pfaffenheim lies in the Haut-Rhin department of southern Alsace, approximately 15 kilometers south of Colmar. Viticulture here dates to Roman times, with documented cultivation continuing through the medieval period under ecclesiastical ownership. The village sits at the base of the Vosges foothills, where a mosaic of soil types—limestone, marl, sandstone, and calcareous clay—provides diverse options for blending.

Alsace's continental climate brings cold winters, warm summers, and remarkably low rainfall. The Vosges Mountains shelter the vineyards from Atlantic weather systems, creating one of France's driest viticultural zones. These conditions favor aromatic white varieties but also allow Pinot Noir to ripen fully while maintaining the fresh acidity essential to balance.

The Physalis cuvée draws from multiple Pfaffenheim parcels rather than a single lieu-dit, allowing the winemaker to assemble a harmonious blend emphasizing fruit purity and drinkability. This multi-terroir approach produces a lighter, more immediately accessible style compared to single-vineyard bottlings from sites like Rot Murlé or Strangenberg.

Alsatian Pinot Noir has gained recognition over the past two decades as producers demonstrate the variety's potential in the region's calcareous soils. Three Grand Cru sites—Kirchberg de Barr, Hengst, and Vorbourg—now authorize Pinot Noir under Grand Cru designation.

Explore our Alsace wine collection and browse French natural wines. For more approachable reds, discover our natural red wine selection.