Domaine Dupasquier “Altesse”

Roussette de savoie, france |  2018

Savoie, located in Eastern France, is one of the country’s most unheralded wine regions. Alpine France, as some refer to it, is a place of spectacular scenery, with mountains, lakes and streams carving their way through the countryside.

There is a lot to discover wine wise in Savoie, and one great place to start is with the wines of fifth generation producer, David Dupasquier and his sister Veronique. They own 15 hectares of vineyards in the southwestern portion of Savoie, an area on the very edge of the Rhône Valley. They work with several varieties, both red and white, including Gamay, Mondeuse, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Jacquère, and Altesse.

This terrific white wine is made from the grape variety Altesse, which is also known as Roussette. The grape is a late ripening variety, often with low yields. Savoie is the most “famous” place it comes from, but you can also find it in neighboring Bugey. Famous may not be the right word to use with Altesse considering there are only 300 hectares total of the variety that is planted in France.

The Dupasquier family are Altesse specialists. They produce it in sparkling form, but are more known for their still white, of which they produce two different bottlings. They are thought of throughout the region as being great traditionalists. They ferment only with native yeasts, age in barrel on its fine lees until the next harvest, and once bottled, age in their cellars for at least 18 months before release. Yes, the 2018 is the current release, and that is because the variety, with its combination of acidity and texture needs time in bottle.

A truly beautiful white wine with notes of orchard fruits, white flowers and mineral on the nose. Both textural and refreshing this wine will stand up to a myriad of flavors and dishes, one of the reasons we feel it is a perfect wine to serve around the holiday dinner table.