Domaine des Landions — The Contemporary Elegance of Neuchâtel Pinot Noir

Domaine des Landions has quickly become one of the most closely followed addresses in the Neuchâtel vineyard. Located in Cortaillod, on the slopes overlooking Lake Neuchâtel, the estate embodies a new generation of demanding Swiss winegrowers, focused on parcel expression, balanced ripeness and the most faithful interpretation of Pinot Noir.

Founded and led by the Meier family, the domaine works with a selection of parcels located on the slopes of Cortaillod and Vaumarcus, with particular attention given to the finest expressions of Neuchâtel Pinot Noir. The wines stand out for their fruit clarity, delicate texture and hillside energy, with cuvées now considered among the most remarkable expressions of Swiss Pinot Noir.

History: a rising reference in Swiss wine

Domaine des Landions belongs to a generation of Swiss estates that have deeply renewed the image of Swiss wine. In Cortaillod, the Meier family has built a strong identity around Pinot Noir, Neuchâtel’s historic grape variety, here handled with careful attention to parcels and vintage balance.

The estate’s recognition has grown rapidly thanks to the quality of its red cuvées, notably Les Landions, Les Cailloutis and Clos du Château. These wines have helped place Cortaillod among Switzerland’s most interesting sectors for lovers of characterful Pinot Noir.

The domaine remains attached to a human scale. This closeness to the vineyard allows careful monitoring of ripeness, rigorous grape selection and a cellar approach centred on fruit purity, refined textures and the identity of place.

Terroir: Cortaillod, Vaumarcus and the influence of the lake

The domaine works with a selection of parcels located on the slopes of Cortaillod and Vaumarcus, in the heart of the Neuchâtel vineyard. The limestone and clay-limestone soils, typical of this part of the canton, provide an ideal foundation for Pinot Noir: fine structure, measured depth, clean fruit and a freshly drawn finish.

The exposure facing Lake Neuchâtel plays an essential role. The lake tempers temperature variations, prolongs ripening and brings a natural sense of balance to the wines. This combination of light, limestone and lake freshness produces elegant, readable Pinot Noirs with fine internal energy.

The domaine also works with Chardonnay, notably through the cuvée Les Calcaires. This white wine completes the range with a more vertical expression, marked by citrus, pale stone, lift and a crystalline finish.

Viticulture and vinification: high standards, parcels and measured intervention

The domaine relies on demanding viticulture, attentive to soil balance, yield control and the quality of ripeness. This approach helps preserve vineyard vitality and allows the harvest of balanced grapes, without seeking excessive maturity.

In the cellar, vinification remains low-intervention. Parcels are handled separately, fermentations take place naturally, and ageing is conducted with restraint in carefully chosen barrels, in order to respect fruit purity and the finesse of texture. The result is a range of frank, nuanced and highly legible wines.

Wine style

The Pinot Noirs of Domaine des Landions are defined by aromatic purity, refined texture and elegant structure. They combine red fruits, floral notes, fine spices, silky tannins and a limestone-driven energy that is highly characteristic of the finest Neuchâtel slopes.

Clos du Château represents the domaine’s most ambitious and profound expression, while Les Cailloutis offers a more delicate and floral reading. The Chardonnay Les Calcaires completes the range with a chiselled, luminous and gastronomic white wine, carried by fine mineral length.

Emblematic cuvées

Ageing and gastronomic pairings

The finest Pinot Noirs from the domaine can evolve for 8 to 15 years, depending on the cuvée and vintage. With time, they gain complexity, developing notes of forest floor, black tea, sweet spices, fine leather and patinated red fruits.

The Pinot Noirs pair beautifully with roast poultry, veal, duck, mushrooms, feathered game, delicately slow-cooked meats, mature cheeses and refined Swiss cuisine. Chardonnay Les Calcaires works well with lake fish, shellfish, scallops, poultry, fresh cheeses, risotto and herb-based dishes.