Clive Coates notes that Mondeuse sometimes has difficulties fully ripening in the cool alpine climates of Savoie and eastern France, which can lead to some examples being very acidic, tart, and lacking fruit. Such as it is, Gamay finds its soulmate.
Dreamy alpine Jacquère grown a days hike from Switzerland. Fruit mixes with esters, spices and rustic accents: flint, chives, breadcrumbs, caramel, narcissus, peach pit and lemon balm. Empyreumatic aromas (burnt, cooked or smoked qualities) with subtle oxidation and a slight fermentation note.
"Mountain wine regions are complex for a reason: their topographical challenges have meant, through most of history, that they were a series of little kingdoms and fiefdoms, clinging on to specialities and traditions which reflect, with some fidelity, precise and highly contrastive local conditions."
Delicate vinification in fiberglass teases out pulpy fruit with pepper and flowers. "Spicy and rustic notes, such as bay leaf, pepper, cocoa, chili pepper, grape and sap." The name is a play on 'la déesse', meaning 'the goddess'.
Roussane's one of the only 2 white grapes allowed in the Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC. The grape develops a unique russet color when ripe, and is is often reminiscent of a flowery herbal tea. "buttery and brioche aromas, followed by honeyed floral, spicy and smoky notes: gingerbread, iris, dried apricots, candied citrus fruits, cardamom and graphite."