Savoie

Overview

Savoie is a mountain wine region in the French Alps, adjacent to the Jura to the north and bordering Switzerland and Italy. The wines are typically low in alcohol, high in natural acidity, and strongly mineral in character from Alpine soils. The primary white grapes are Jacquère and Altesse (Roussette de Savoie); the primary red grapes are Mondeuse and Pinot Noir. Gilman acknowledges limited experience with Savoie and promises broader coverage in future issues.

Key Producers

• Domaine Vendange (Benjamin Vendange and Diane Gounel) — certified organic since 2024 (farmed organically since 2015); 10 hectares; Jacquère, Altesse, Pinot Noir, Mondeuse; based in Savoie

Key Wines Tasted (VFTC #111)

• 2022 Jacquère “la Côte” — Domaine Vendange; 11% ABV; bright, transparent, mineral; no malo; 90 pts
• 2022 Altesse “Madame de M…” — Domaine Vendange; full malo; lime, tart pear, stony minerality, wild fennel; 92 pts
• 2022 Pinot Noir “Cuvée H” — Domaine Vendange; 12.5%; pomegranate, stony, elegant; 89+
• 2021 Mondeuse “le Coz” — Domaine Vendange; 11%; medium-bodied; dark berries, espresso, tree bark; 89

Style Notes

Low alcohol, high acidity, Alpine mineral character. Jacquère is delicate and pure; Altesse more structured with savory complexity. Mondeuse is the red workhorse — think of it as an Alpine, cool-climate red with good tannin and aging potential.

My Tastings

(none yet)

Sources

• sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC May-June 2024 #111.txt — Jura/Savoie section (pages 55, 58): four wines from Domaine Vendange