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2016 Savoie Arbin Mondeuse “Terres Brunes”
A. & M. QuenardOnce known only for cheap, thin whites, Savoie now produces world-class wines in all styles that put forth the stunning terroir of this Alpine growing region. At the foot of massive peaks, the vineyards benefit from excellent sun exposure; a cool, dry climate; and poor, rocky soils often planted at a significant gradient. Native grape varieties thrive in these conditions, giving lively, thirst-quenching wines with distinct regional character. The Quenard family has prime holdings on the steep limestone slopes of the Chignin appellation, but this Mondeuse bottling hails from the neighboring village of Arbin, where richer clay soils give broader, chewier, thicker wines. Aged in a combination of stainless steel and oak foudres, it conveys loads of juicy, brambly berries with floral and gamey nuances. Decant it to allow its dense tannins to soften, and then enjoy with roast duck, mushrooms, or Alpine cheeses.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2016 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Mondeuse |
Appellation: | Vin de Savoie |
Country: | France |
Region: | Savoie |
Producer: | André & Michel Quenard |
Winemaker: | André & Michel Quenard |
Vineyard: | 40 to 50 years, 1 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | Aged for 11 months, 50% in stainless steel tank, 50% in foudre |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Savoie Arbin Mondeuse “Terres Brunes”
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The 2021 Voie Royale was aged entirely in foudre, and the result is an utterly distinctive, perfumed, and stony rouge evoking freshly pressed grapes, tart fruit, and violets.
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Lychee and ripe citrus wrapped in beeswax. You might think there are a bunch of busy benevolent bees whiling away inside your glass.
About The Producer
André & Michel Quenard
The Savoie is a picture of fairy-tale perfection: snow-capped peaks, rolling hills, and sparkling mountain streams. This idyllic region is where Michel Quenard farms twenty-two hectares of vineyards along the steep slopes around Chignin. His grandfather started the domaine in the 1930s. Though he slowly increased his vineyard holdings, he mostly sold off his wine. It wasn’t until 1960 that Michel’s father, André, began bottling under their own label. Michel joined the domaine in 1976. Today, he is joined by his sons, Guillaume and Romain. Their cuvées go beyond the simple “eclectic” that categorizes wines from Savoie; they are unique revelations that reflect the complexity of their terroir and the artistry of this master.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171