Your typical multigenerational vigneron tale this is not. Long story short: here we have a young fellow from the Loire who studies wine in Burgundy, bikes to Georgia (the country, that is) while stopping and working at various vineyards along the route to pay his way, bikes home, crowdfunds a crazy idea to plant vines high up in the Alps, and in 2019 is off and running and turning heads. We get wind of the project, track down our man (we find him working part-time at a local organic grocer to make ends meet), and the rest is history. This blanc is not what one might typically imagine a “mountain wine” to be, as while it has a crystalline edge, there is a surprising dollop of sun, heft, and deep, creamy notes of white flowers and citrus fruit.

In an increasingly complex and ever-changing wine world, I have a soft spot for those who just keep things steady and simple. The Bottex family is literally the only vigneron family I know who make one single wine, have always made only one single wine, have no plans to expand, and make their one single wine ridiculously, deliciously well. No changes to the label nor to what’s inside the bottle, in at least the few decades I’ve been drinking it. No need to chase any fads when you’ve got something impeccable you can be proud of. This is a universally loved pink bubbly delight of candied strawberries and roses, always true and always exquisite. Icing on the cake is that it’s affordable, too.

Apricot and orange peel aromas, with a hearty, silky palate. I like to drink it quite chilled to start, on its own, let the freshness do the talking, and as it warms bring it to table with whatever’s cookin’. Let the hints of honey and pine shine through to see what they can do.