13/03/2023
For those who’ve made it to the slopes this year and for those who want to live the fantasy, we have some new beauties from France’s alpine region Savoie!
With only 2,000 hectares of vines, Savoie represents a tiny fraction of France's wine production. Compare that with Bordeaux’s 110,000 hectares and you have a sense of the artisanal nature of the wines made here. We have cherry picked a couple of bottles that we feel capture the essence of place and demonstrate how underrated this tucked away pocket of France really is.
Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon 2021
Wedged between Lyon and Geneva, Bugey is a tiny 500-hectare enclave of vines perched on the steep western flank of the Alps. Cerdon is one of three nominated sub-regions or crus, notable for their unique qualities, and for Cerdon this means sparkling wines only. This example is based on gamay, with a little poulsard, and is made using the ancestral method, whereby the wine finishes its fermentation in the bottle. There is a natural sweetness that is balanced by a fresh bite, and at only 8% alcohol it would make a really original, pink, fruity, and refreshing aperitif.
Domaine Bärtschi Chardonnay Sous les Rochers de la Vigne, Cru Manicle, 2021
Another Savoyard speciality with a wonderfully evocative name meaning 'under the rocks of the vine'. Downslope from the snowy peaks, on a steep south-facing site, Manicle is one of the rare crus, or growths, of the small Bugey appellation. Soils are a mix of limestone scree and clay, and the altitude and fresh nights bring a degree of refreshment, precision and, dare one say, minerality, a term now rather over-used in the wine lexicon. Crisp, crunchy, Alpine-flowery, and perfect with a ripe Vacherin before its season comes to an end.
Find these gems on our shelves and on the website.
