Jean Perrier et Fils - Apremont, Savoie, France (2023)

TASTING NOTES

Almond blossom, river stones, under-ripe orchard fruit and pears. Very aromatic with a very long, slightly saline and bitter finish. Crisp and delicious. Perfect for sunny afternoons and apertifs. 

Hand-harvested grapes are gently pneumatically-pressed and fermented with selected yeasts with temperature control to avoid malolactic conversion over three weeks. A brief aging on its lees is followed by a light settling. Bottled young and fresh.

The Jean Perrier et Fils winery began in 1853 with a single vineyard and a humble cellar. It has grown grapes continuously since that time and now owns 53 hectares planted in 8 different towns throughout the Savoie. Farming is done sustainably, by hand.

Vines are planted in limestone-rich soils and winemaking techniques are used to highlight the intense minerality of this terroir.

Apremont has been named to Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list on multiple occasions.

The Region: Plantings in Savoie can be traced back to 1AD, with fossilized remains of the region’s indigenous red grape, Mondeuse. Situated close to Switzerland, south of the Jura, these Alpine Valleys are within sight of the imposing Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. The peaks of the Savoie are much lower, rarely cresting 1500 ft.

Known mainly for its white wines, the region possesses a true Alpine climate. The most widely planted grape is Jacquère. Other white plantings include Altesse, Chasselas and Roussanne while the predominant reds are the native Mondeuse, Pinot Noir, Gamay and the rare Persan.

Long, dry growing seasons, cool (even cold!) evenings, large diurnal shifts, limestone soils and high acid varieties result in wines with freshness and a saline minerality. There are 6 AOCs in Savoie but the majority of the wines come from the Vin de Savoie
appellation, which allows grapes from across the region to be used. Within Vin de Savoie are 14 Crus (similar to “Villages” level wines in the Southern Rhône) which can apply their names to white grapes, one of which is the well-known Apremont.

The Apremont Vineyard is steeply sloped and sits atop soils rich in clay and limestone.
It is sustainably-farmed and planted primarily to the region’s most noble variety: Jacquère. Careful pruning and selection during both the growing season and harvest ensure full ripeness in these early-ripening grapes.