Cave Biber, making lovely wines from Switzerland’s Valais
Website: https://www.cave-biber.ch/en
Cave Biber began life in 1971 when when René Mathier established his winery in the village of Salgesch in the Valais, Switzerland. He grew the vineyard holdings to 5 hectares, and the winery was then sold to Jürg Biber, who renamed it and ran it for 20 years. More recently (2022), with no successors, Biber sold it to Bernd Reichart from Zurich to continue the business, but has remained as honorary president.
I tasted these wines with Remo Meyer, winemaker and operations manager, who arrived with the new owners. Remo had already been working in the Valais for several years. In 2023 he began farming all the vineyards organically.
THE WINES
Cave Biber Les Perles de La Raspille Cuvée Rosé Brut NV Valais, Switzerland
Carbonated Pinot Noir. Orange/pink in colour. Fruity and bright with nice strawberry and cherry fruit. Juicy and lively showing nice fruit intensity. 88/100
Cave Biber Humagne La Doyenne ‘1313’ 2023 Valais, Switzerland
1313 is the date when Humagne Blanche emerged as a variety. Attractive broad fruity profile with citrus, pear and melon. Great balance and harmony with some richness of texture, but it stays fresh and bright, despite the relatively low acidity. 93/100
Cave Biber Johannisberg Le Rhin 2023 Valais, Switzerland
This is Sylvaner. Lovely purity and tension with nice pure fruit. Good concentration here with some crushed rock minerality. Pure and expressive. 94/100
Cave Biber Cornalin Rouge du Pays 2022 Valais, Switzerland
I really like the texture of this wine. Bright and peppery with spice and a saline twist to the pure black cherries with a hint of savoury olive character. Concentrated, ripe but beautifully balanced, with nice tension. 94/100
Cave Biber Malbec Le Premier 2022 Vin de Pays Suisse, Switzerland
This was grafted in back in 2011. Focused and textural with nice weight, showing ripe cherries and plums with some saltiness. Very expressive with a touch of cured meat. 93/100
Cave Biber Syrah La Première 2020 Valais, Switzerland
30% new oak (500 litre barrels). Spicy, meaty and peppery with some olive and black cherry character. Good concentration and structure, and quite gastronomic. 93/100
