An elegant, dry red wine from Savoy that reveals the alpine Mondeuse Noire variety at its finest: cool, juicy and with a vibrant freshness – anything but rustic.
Bottler: Domaine des Orchis,67, rue de la Fontaine, 68340 Zellenberg / France
In the glass
Colour
Fairly transparent garnet red.
Nose
Sweet, concentrated cherries, elderberry and blackberry, accompanied by mint, cinnamon and cubeb pepper with a subtle touch of wood – complex yet effortlessly fragrant.
Palate
Juicy and transparent with notes of cherry and cherry stone, pomegranate, blood orange and red berries; dark fermentation aromas of black cardamom, tobacco and tea, finely polished tannins, and a clear, vibrant acidity.
Character
Like an encounter between Gamay and Syrah – full of tension, pure and fluid, with impressive lightness at just 11.5% ABV.
Pairing
Seared swordfish steaks with capers and beetroot jus, slow-cooked Bœuf Bourguignon or a mushroom tart.
Notes
Steep vineyards at 350–450 metres across three sites around Frangy/Poisy with calcareous clay and glacial moraine; yields of just 20 hl/ha, 90% destemming, two winters in used casks and bottling without filtration – plus six months of skin contact for depth without sacrificing alpine freshness.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Rather transparent garnet red – brightly luminous, just as one would expect from a cool mountain terroir.
Nose
Complex yet refreshingly straightforward: sweet, concentrated cherries, accompanied by elderberry and blackberries. A hint of mint, cinnamon and cubeb pepper adds spice, while fine, subtle wood notes remain in the background. Juicy, cool and exceedingly fresh.
Palate
As if Gamay were paired with Syrah: impressive tension, juiciness and transparency. Cherries and cherry stones, pomegranate and blood orange, red berries, alongside dark notes of black cardamom, tobacco and tea. The tannins are polished, the acidity clear and vibrant as a mountain stream. With only 11.5% alcohol, this is a red wine of astonishing lightness coupled with genuine depth.
Finish
Pure and flowing clearly, with a fruity-spicy aftertaste and a refreshing pull – a wine that invites you to pour another glass.
Terroir & origin
The grapes grow in Haute-Savoie across two hectares, spread over three partly extremely steep vineyards in Desingy, Collonges and Peillonnex, at altitudes between 350 and 450 metres, overlooking Mont Blanc. The soils: calcareous clay, glacial moraine and bedrock. Philippe Héritier, once a bank manager, cleared abandoned steep slopes around Frangy in 2006 and now cultivates five hectares – using wild yeasts, minimal sulphur and herbal teas for the vines.
Grape variety & vinification
Mondeuse Noire, the indigenous Alpine grape, which here proves that Savoyard red wines need be neither thin nor rustic. Low yields of 20 hl/ha; the grapes are 90% destemmed to avoid astringency. Maturation takes place over two winters in older casks, and the wine is bottled unfiltered – in a hexagonal cellar that Héritier had built according to the golden ratio, inspired by the ancient theatre of Epidaurus.
Food recommendations
Its alpine freshness and fine tannins make it remarkably versatile: briefly grilled swordfish steaks with capers and beetroot juice, slow-cooked Bœuf Bourguignon or a mushroom tart. Also a delight when served slightly chilled alongside charcuterie.
Special characteristics
A red wine that feels like liquid mountain air: cool, transparent, electrifying. It is no surprise that starred chefs such as Marc Veyrat and Jean Sulpice count among Héritier’s clients – this winemaker, who prefers to call himself a farmer and raises 300,000 snails on the side, truly understands patience and quality.
