Domaine des Ardoisières : Améthyste 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for Améthyste 2022

Tasting

Color
Displaying a ruby red hue, bright and youthful, this cuvée shows a light to medium intensity.

Nose
Beautifully complex, the nose opens with aromas of dark berries such as blackberry and morello cherry, accompanied by herbaceous and peppery notes. With aeration, it reveals mineral and smoky nuances, along with hints of juniper, garrigue, and delicate white flowers such as violet.

Palate
The attack is fresh and precise, carried by a lovely acidity. The mid-palate, dense and structured, unfolds flavors of dark fruit, redcurrant, and plum, supported by soft, powdery tannins. A pronounced minerality accompanies a long, saline, and complex finish, enhanced by a subtle note of licorice.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs perfectly with flavorful meats or game, such as beef, lamb, or wild boar seasoned with thyme and rosemary. It also pairs wonderfully with charcuterie platters or mountain cheeses such as Beaufort, Reblochon, or Tomme de Savoie.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate the aromatic range of this 2022 vintage, decanting or prior aeration is highly recommended. This wine can be enjoyed starting in 2025, but its structure allows it to evolve favorably in the cellar until around 2032.

The elegance and minerality of a Savoie wine

The estate

Born in 1998 under the impetus of Michel Grisard and the mayor of Cevins, Domaine des Ardoisières is the result of a project to restore abandoned hillsides in Savoie, France. Now led by Brice Omont, this estate has become an essential reference in alpine winegrowing. The domaine stands out for its deep commitment to preserving native grape varieties and its environmentally respectful approach. Domaine des Ardoisières thus embodies the qualitative revival of its region, producing wines celebrated for their finesse and authentic expression of terroir.

The vineyard

Classified as IGP Vin des Allobroges, the vineyard on the Cevins hillside is characterized by dizzying slopes reaching up to 70% incline, requiring entirely manual vine work on stone terraces. Facing due south, the vines benefit from optimal sunlight exposure. The shallow soils, made up of fractured mica schist, mica, and clay, give the grapes a remarkable minerality. The domaine follows the principles of organic farming and biodynamics, encouraging spontaneous vegetation growth and maintaining deliberately low yields to ensure fruit quality.

The vintage

The year 2022 benefited from particularly favorable weather and growing conditions. This mild climate allowed the vine cycle to progress optimally, giving the grapes harmonious development and perfectly balanced ripeness at harvest.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes are hand-harvested with rigorous sorting. For the Améthyste 2022 cuvée, whole-bunch vinification takes place in open vats, preserving the freshness of the berries. Alcoholic fermentation, carried out by native yeasts, lasts two to three weeks with careful temperature management. After a natural malolactic fermentation, the wine undergoes twelve months of aging in wooden barrels. Cellar intervention remains minimal to let the terroir fully express itself, with no excessive filtration.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Persan (60%) and Mondeuse Noire (40%).