'Madame de M...', Roussette de Savoie Altesse, Domaine Vendange

A rich, aromatic and textured wine with floral blossom, spice and flint layered with elegant notes of quince and ripe pineapple culminating in a mineral and saline finish.

Producer Note

Owners Diane and Benjamin began bottling their own wines in 2015, from vineyards that have been in the family for generations. Their 10-hectares of vines flourish on south facing slopes in Combe de Savoie, on the foothills of the Massif des Bauges. The estate is located on glacial moraines dating back 15,000 years, originating from the time when the valley was one large glacier. The vineyard is managed with great respect for tradition and terroir, using sustainable practices in order to gain the best and most authentic expression of the Savoie. The combination of rich soils and favourable climate, provide Domaine de Vendange with excellent conditions for their vine nursery. The production process has been mastered throughout the generations, and they sell a vast range of scions and rootstocks throughout France. 

Vintage

2018 saw a hot and dry summer, which allowed the vines physiological progress to take place steadily, with flowering, fruit-set and véraison all taking place under good conditions. The grapes reached good maturity levels with balancing freshness.

Vineyard

The Domaine de Vendange estate extends over 10 hectares, planted on south facing slopes where the local Savoie grape varieties fully express their typicity. The 20-year old Altesse vines yield 55 hectolitres per hectare. The soils are formed of glacial moraine; they are very young limestone soils made up of limestone scree, with layers of silty clay, which produce elegant, fresh wines. The vines are planted at 400 metres’ elevation, yet despite the altitude and mountainous location, the summers are surprisingly hot. This distinctive microclimate encourages the grapes to reach optimum maturity with concentrated juice, balanced by mountain-cool freshness. The vines are cultivated using integrated agriculture practices, maintaining the greatest respect for terroir and tradition. The focus is on green harvesting with pruning, de-budding, trellising and leaf stripping. All grapes are hand-harvested. In 2021, the domain moved into conversion to organic status. 

Winemaking

The grapes were gently pressed at a low pressure to retain the quality and the must was cold settled overnight. The juice was fed by gravity and fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel tanks to retain the varietal characteristics and the nuances of the Savoie terroir. Temperatures were carefully maintained at 18°C and the vinification lasted for a month. Malolactic conversion naturally took place during the winter. Vinified with a minimal intervention approach, the use of sulphites was judicious. 95% of the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks on its fine lees for over 12 months and 5% was matured in three-year old Burgundy barrels. 

Tasting Note

With a brioche opening, complex aromas of floral blossom, spice and flinty notes surround a core of pear and citrus. Intense and precise, the textured palate is lively, balanced and underpinned by elegant mineral notes.

Grape

Altesse 100%