Quintessence d’Altesse AOP Roussette de Savoie 2022

Wine Description for Quintessence d’Altesse AOP Roussette de Savoie 2022 by Orchis

Colour & Appearance

Medium straw yellow with brilliant clarity – a wine that hints at its maturity and concentration even in the glass.

Nose

Fascinating duality between alpine freshness and Mediterranean warmth. Acacia blossoms and jasmine meet warm biscuit dough, joined by ripe apricots, yellow peaches and citrus zest. Subtle spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg along with ripe pear round out the aromatic spectrum – a bouquet that combines complexity with accessibility.

Palate

Here the true personality of this Altesse unfolds: a balance between ripe yellow fruit and vibrant energy. The delicate yeast sweetness and extract richness are counterbalanced by precise acidity and electrifying minerality. Oxidative notes of stewed apples and pears along with pastry aromas lend depth, whilst lemon zest and an almost waxy texture provide tension. A wine with substance and grip.

Finish

Long, substantial and salty-mineral. The tension between maturity and freshness persists to the end – a finale that invites the next sip.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Altesse (locally called Roussette) is pressed as whole bunches, the must settles for 24 hours before being transferred to used barriques. There it ferments and matures for one year sur lie – a process that gives the wine its creamy texture and complexity without masking the variety’s characteristic freshness.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A versatile companion to Comté or Beaufort from the region, pan-fried char or trout, veal schnitzel with morels, risotto with porcini or Poulet de Bresse in cream sauce. The salty minerality harmonises beautifully with scallops or langoustines.

Special Characteristics

Orchis interprets the autochthonous Altesse grape with artisanal ambition, creating a wine that does not deny its alpine origins yet simultaneously displays depth and maturity. A characterful representative of the appellation that proves Savoyard white wines are far more than light summer wines.