2020 Domaine des Ardoisières 'Schiste' Blanc

Region: Coteau de Cevins, Savoie, France

Grape: 40% Jacquère, 30% Roussette, 20% Malvoisie and 10% Mondeuse Blanche

Vineyard Practice: Certified organic, practising biodynamic

Is It Vegan? Yes

Culinary Suggestions: Raclette cheese, prawns, scallops, white fish, roast chicken

Alcohol: 12%

Bottle Size: 750ml

Layers of apricot, pear, and orange blossom are complemented by a lively citrous acidity and a refreshing saline finish. Perfect for enjoying now or ageing to enhance its complexity.

Origins

Michel Grisard breathed new life into the Cevins hillside in 1998 with the replanting of six hectares of mica-schists along terraces between Albertville and Moutiers, which gave rise to the Domaine. Brice Omont, an agricultural engineer from Champagne, joined the project in 2003 to support Grisard and has since taken the reins as the head of the estate, which has since grown to encompass 16 hectares. The estate takes pride in its biodynamic viticulture practises and boasts an Alpine climate. Sandy clay with schist and micaschist bedrock, limestone scree. Steep slopes up to 60%, southern exposure. 400-500m altitude, resulting in a limited but highly-prized production of just 25 hl per hectare.

The 'Schiste' Blanc, sourced from south east facing terraced vineyards on a precipitous 60% slope, is one of the estate's three premier cuvées. The vineyard’s unique bush vines are trained 'sur échalas' (on stakes) and plunge directly into the metamorphic mica-schist bedrock. This challenging environment restricts yields to just 25 hl per hectare, concentrating the flavours and enhancing the quality of the grapes.

Aged for one year in three- to five-year-old barrels, the 'Schiste' Blanc achieves a sublime balance of dense fruit flavours like apricot and pears, intertwined with spice, a vibrant lick of acidity, and a distinctive salinity that rounds out the finish. This cuvée exemplifies the exceptional terroir of Cévins, offering a wine that is both profound and elegantly structured.

Tasting Notes

The bouquet emerges with apricot, pears and orange blossom followed by slight toasted nuts and underlining herbal notes. The palate is lively but balanced, with the dense fruit shining through alongside fresh citrus acidity finished with a lip-smacking salinity.