Domaines des Ardoisières - 'Rhodonite' - Rosé of Gamay - IGP Vin des Allobroges, Savoie, FR - 2023

Satellite's Hot Take

Does not get much more pleasurable than a gamay rosé... and one from Ardoisières is about as good as it can get. This is not just a typical rosé from the seaside ready to guzzle in your muzzle - no. This is something else - a rare bird, we don't know if it's ever been made before or if it will be made again. This is a singular experiment the French couldn't steal away but for 48 bottles that made it out. We got 12 and we're thrilled to share. This is Gamay - grown in an extreme steep parcel of schist rock, falling out of a mountain with hardly a lick of topsoil., It's salty, it's intensely elegant, it's for a special day with special friends, and a lot of cheese, salad, veggies, and joy. A perfect Satellite wine. Don't let me drink it all.

Truly one of my favorite wines from one of my favorite wineries. I don't pick many favoirtes but the wines of Ardoisières stand out in a region of exceptional wines and legendary, if underexplored, producers.
For me, Ardoisières free but honed expressions of their high mountain region are the ultimate in pleasure to be found in Savoie. Across the board - the wines age elegantly for their lean and very low alcohol yet structured frames - They give so much and they delight with a wide variety of cuisine. SLAKE ME OFF SOME RACLETTE, DAWG!

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Farming Sustainable, Organic (Ecocert), Biodynamic, Vegan Varietals 100% Gamay Vineyards & Viticulture From Cevins, Saint-Pierre-de-Soucy, and Apremont. Vines planted on west facing slopes around 400m altitude. Guyot and Cordon Royal training. Soils Schist and ardoise (a type of hard, black schist native to the region), mixed with clay Harvest & Vinification Only indigenous yeasts are used and no SO2 during vinification. Direct press from a parcel that had a later ripening. Aged for nine months in tank, then bottled after light filtration with 1/2 gram sulfur at bottling.

"Brice Omont has created a rosé of great pleasure and edged with indulgence! The balance is admirable. The wine expresses itself with delicacy and fine nuances. Notes of citrus, orange peel and red fruits emanate from a smooth mouth bordered by a refreshing and long-lasting frame. Favorite!"
-Notes from Tomorrowthevines - translated directly

Notes on the Producer

From Domaine des Ardoisieres, it seems Mont Blanc is everywhere. The towering mountain watches over this small estate near the Swiss border from every angle, shaping the wines so expertly grown and made here.The domaine was planted during Roman times, then became overgrown with forest. A passionate group of supporters cleared the vineyard in 1998 and began piecing the steep terraces back together to create Domaine des Ardoisieres. Since 2005, Champagne native Brice Omont has taken over the winemaking and is now considered one of the most exciting producers in France. For the very first time, Brice’s wines are being imported to the United States.The domaine’s 17 acres of vineyards are planted on steep, rocky slopes high above the town of Freterive. The entire production is sourced from two single vineyard sites: Cevins and St. Pierre de Soucy. The domaine produces five different cuvées (three white, two red) using the area’s unique varietals, including Altesse, Jacquère, Mondeuse, Gamay and Persan. The domaine has employed biodynamic principles in the vineyard since the vines were planted. The reds are produced without any de-stemming, and all the wines are fermented with native yeasts.Brice’s wines are brilliantly unique, capturing the stony and mineral character of the vineyard terraces, and possessing an amazing crystalline purity. Drinking these wines from the side of Mont Blanc is like tasting freshly squeezed juice running off a glacier.