Domaine Prieure Saint-Christophe Vin de Savoie Rouge 2020 (red)

Domaine Prieure Saint-Christophe Vin de Savoie Rouge 2020

Mondeuse

Savoie, France

“Although this estate has recently changed hands from the legendary Michel Grisard to Clement Giachino, the quality has not wavered. Michel Grisard began work on what would become Domaine Prieuré Saint Christophe in 1978. Back then, it was an estate in ruins, and no small task to turn it around. He left his father’s vineyard in 1982 to concentrate on his new property and declared that he wanted to “turn Mondeuse into a great wine”. This variety was not popular at the time, but has since become the leading red in Savoie, largely thanks to Michel. It is perhaps little wonder that he is sometimes referred to as the “Pope of Mondeuse”.
He owned six hectares of vines. Along with the Mondeuse, Grisard also grows Altesse on the Savoie slopes, producing a wine that is fermented, stirred and aged in casks. The wines have excellent potential for bottle ageing. It was only a decade after Michel began growing vines that he discovered biodynamic production methods. The estate is still run in the manner.
His estate spreads over the towns of Frétérive and Arbin, giving him different options when it comes to terroir. The soil in Frétérive is calcareous, while in Arbin it is of clay-limestone. Four hectares are utilised for the cultivation of Mondeuse and 1.4 hectares of Altesse. The “Pope” became one of the best-known producers in Savoie, and his excellent wines are on the tables of some of the world’s finest restaurants. Michel’s last vintage was in 2014, and since then the vines have been managed by Clément Giachino, the son of Frédéric Giachino of Domaine Giachino.” -Real Wines