Silice IGP Vin des Allobroges, Maison des Ardoisières 2021

Brice Omont’s Domaine des Ardoisières was originally the project of now-retired grower Michel Grisard – founder of Prieuré St Christophe. Michel took up the idea of a local association Vivre En Tarantaise who was looking for a vigneron to replant abandoned mountain terraces above the village of Cévins, in the remote Tarantaise valley. The project entailed creating a company to rent around 400 plots of land from villagers (including the local mayor), restore the terraces and stone walls as well as the vineyard cabins. The domaine is named after the local slate (ardoise) that makes the cabins and stone walls, a sought-after material used to build the roof of the monastery of the Grande Chartreuse.

Maison des Ardoisières is Brice’s négoce, he supervises the work and buys the grapes from three domaines. Fresh on the nose with touch of white flowers and lemon, there’s a bit of 'gras' on the attack and a lively finish with hints of quinine and lime. It’s pretty serious for the price, and the wine (in its youth) opens up beautifully over a couple of days.

Producer  Domaine des Ardoisières of Brice Omont

Origin Fréterive, Savoie, France

Grapes 100% Jacquère

Vintage 2020

Alcohol  11.5% ABV

Style Medium body white

Bottle size 750ml

Winemaking Manual harvested, direct press, fermented with indigenous yeast. Aged in fibreglass for 9 months. Bottled unfiltred, unfined, small amount of So2

Notes Organic, Biodynamic, Natural