Situated in the village of Jenins, one of the four historic wine-growing villages of the Bündner Herrschaft, Myriam and Johannes Lampert represent a new generation of Swiss winegrowers who have emerged not through inheritance of an already famous label but through a relentless pursuit of quality. Johannes, a native of Jenins, trained winemaker with experience at neighbor Obrecht, but also at Davaz and abroad in Adelaide Hills, and Myriam, originally from the neighboring viticultural town of Fläsch, began bottling wine under their own name in 2017. They initially intended to make wine for family and friends from the organically farmed vineyards attached to the family’s agricultural estate. The project quickly outgrew its humble origins. From originally two barriques in 2017, today, the estate farms approximately 4.5 hectares, releases 15’000 bottles under Bio Suisse certification, cultivating Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot while also maintaining a flock of sheep as part of the mixed farming operation. At full capacity, the winery should be able to produce around 40’000 bottles from moderate yields of 500 – 600g per sqm, which is in line with some of the most prestigious producers in the region. All wines are spontaneously fermented and bottled unfiltered, reflecting a decidedly artisanal philosophy. Since 2025 they are using the winery of neighbor Annatina Pelizatti, but are planning to build their own above the town of Jenins where they own a farmhouse with a spectacular view on the vineyards below.
The estate’s vineyards are scattered around Jenins, Malans and Maienfeld, within the narrow Rhine Valley corridor that forms the heart of the Bündner Herrschaft. Benefiting from the warm Föhn wind, significant diurnal shifts and a patchwork of gravel, limestone and schist-derived soils, the region has become widely regarded as Switzerland’s greatest terroir for Pinot Noir, often earning the sobriquet “the Burgundy of Switzerland.”
Among Swiss wine enthusiasts, Myriam & Johannes Lampert remains an insider’s discovery. Production is tiny, distribution remains largely domestic, and many cuvées are measured in mere hundreds of bottles. Yet their reputation has risen rapidly. Their Pinot Noir was selected among the best 60 Pinot Noirs in Switzerland by the Schweizerische Weinzeitung in 2022, while Falstaff has consistently rated their wines in the high-80s to low-90s.
First accolades from Falstaff in 2025
What is particularly striking is that Lampert has avoided the temptation to imitate the more extracted and oak-driven style historically associated with parts of the Bündner Herrschaft. Instead, Johannes appears increasingly drawn toward finesse, aromatic complexity and drinkability. The wines tasted here reveal a clear Burgundian sensibility – not in the sense of mimicry, but in their emphasis on perfume, transparency and texture over sheer power. The estate is still young, yet the trajectory is undeniably promising.
Tasting Impression
The tasting revealed a domaine with a remarkably coherent vision. Across the range, from Blanc de Noir to Merlot and Pinot Noir, the common denominator is elegance rather than concentration. Johannes Lampert appears to favour aromatic expression, moderate alcohols, restrained extraction and freshness, producing wines that privilege nuance over muscle.
The Pinot Noirs are unquestionably the heart of the estate. Stylistically, they consistently evoke the lighter-footed villages and premiers crus of the Côte de Beaune rather than the more structured examples of the Côte de Nuits. Volnay is the obvious reference point: red-fruited, floral, spice-inflected and lifted by savoury notes of cured meat, underbrush and forest floor. The progression through the vintages demonstrates impressive consistency, with the inaugural 2017 emerging as the standout wine of the tasting and perhaps the clearest indication of the estate’s potential.
Johannes Lampert (left) with Markus Kumschick during the vineyard walk
The supporting cast is equally interesting. The Blanc de Noir is an original and charming curiosity that showcases Pinot Noir in an unexpectedly delicate guise. The Pinot Blanc Brut demonstrates impressive technical precision and freshness, while the carbonically fermented Merlot offers a refreshing alternative to the heavier interpretations often encountered elsewhere. Taken together, the range suggests a young producer already possessing a strong stylistic identity and a clear understanding of what works in the Bündner Herrschaft: perfume, balance and drinkability.
Tasting Notes
2025 Blanc de Noir – 89 Points
4000 bottles produced from Pinot Noir and vinified as a white wine, the 2025 Blanc de Noir opens in the glass with aromas of white peach, orchard fruit, hawthorn blossom and a subtle yeasty note that lends complexity without becoming distracting. Medium- to light-bodied, it is supple and charming, with modest acidity by comparison with Chardonnay but sufficient freshness to maintain balance. The finish is clean and gently aromatic, making for an attractive summer white that combines the easy-drinking nature of Chasselas with greater aromatic range and textural interest.
2024 Pinot Blanc Brut Blanc de Blancs – 91 Points
The 2024 Pinot Blanc Brut wafts from the glass with aromas of elderflower, citrus blossom, fresh pear and lemon zest, also a subtle minerality. Vinified in the méthode champenoise, it emphasizes fruit purity over autolytic complexity, offering a bright, crisp profile animated by lively acids and fine mousse. Elegant and refreshing, this is a sparkling wine that will appeal to drinkers who value floral lift and freshness over brioche and yeast-derived richness. The finish is saline and mouthwatering.
2022 Merlot – 90 Points
The 2022 Merlot, vinified with carbonic maceration, offers an unconventional interpretation of the variety. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of red cherry, wild strawberry, violet and sweet spice, it largely eschews the darker fruit spectrum typically associated with Merlot. Medium-bodied and supple, with alcohol held to a modest 12.5%, it is animated by juicy acids and fine-grained tannins. Less dense and structured than a conventionally vinified Merlot, it succeeds through energy and drinkability, delivering a fresh and vibrant expression that explains its popularity in local restaurants.
Tasting barrel samples and method champenois wines sur latte
2024 Pinot Noir – 93 Points
The Pinot is obviously the star of the portfolio. The 2024 rendition bursts with aromas of cranberry, raspberry, red cherry, white pepper, sweet spices and a subtle note of smoked bacon. Medium-bodied and elegantly proportioned, it possesses excellent aromatic persistence and a beautifully refined texture. The tannins are fine and powdery, framing a core of vibrant red fruit that remains transparent to site and vintage. More Volnay than Pommard in personality, this is a graceful and finely balanced Pinot Noir that already delivers considerable pleasure.
2023 Pinot Noir – 93 Points
The 2023 Pinot Noir reveals an expressive bouquet of red berries, dried flowers, spice, cured meat and a delicate touch of farmyard reduction that quickly dissipates with air. Slightly lighter in body than the 2024, due to the challenging weather conditions (hail, etc.), it compensates with exceptional aromatic complexity and precision. Silky and refined, it glides across the palate with a weightless quality, concluding with a lingering finish marked by savoury nuances and vibrant red fruit. Once again, the stylistic affinity is closer to Chambolle than to the firmer architecture of many Bündner Herrschaft Pinots.
2019 Pinot Noir – 92 Points
Produced in a warmer vintage and in a tiny quantity of only 300 bottles, the 2019 Pinot Noir is broader and more structured than its younger siblings. Aromas of dried cherry, red plum, forest floor, sweet spice and dried herbs and florals emerge from the glass, complemented by subtle earthy undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, it possesses greater density and tannic authority, yet remains balanced and harmonious. The finish is savoury and persistent, suggesting that this vintage will continue to reward further cellaring.
2017 Pinot Noir – 94 Points
The inaugural vintage remains one of the estate’s finest achievements. The 2017 Pinot Noir offers a beautifully complex bouquet of red cherry, wild strawberry, moss, underbrush/sous-bois, dried flowers, cured meat and exotic spices. With additional aeration, further layers of forest floor and woodland character emerge, recalling the aromatic complexity of a fine Burgundian premier cru. Medium-bodied and seamless, it combines maturity, nuance and elegance in equal measure. The palate is vibrant and beautifully integrated, culminating in a long, savoury finish. A remarkably accomplished first release and a compelling indication of the talent behind this young estate.
Authors:
Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master
Markus Kumschick, WSET III
June 2026
