Petit Royal
Lambert de Seyssel
The village of Seyssel, in the French Alps, has a history of viticulture dating back centuries, having built a reputation for floral-scented charmers from the local grapes, Molette and Altesse. Produced in the méthode traditionnelle and aged for two years sur latte, the Petit Royal is unequaled in the world of sparkling wine: alpine flowers, dried fruit, wildflower honey, and a toasty, yeasty note give this value sparkler an utterly delightful aromatic richness and complexity. Serve it with various salty toasts to kick off your next dinner party, or pop one open to liven up a night at home with a big bowl of mac and cheese.
—Anthony Lynch
| Wine Type: | sparkling |
| Vintage: | NV |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | 70% Molette, 30% Altesse |
| Appellation: | Seyssel |
| Country: | France |
| Producer: | Lambert de Seyssel |
| Winemaker: | Gérard Lambert, Olivier Varichon |
| Vineyard: | 10-25 years |
| Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
| Aging: | A liqueur de tirage is added to launch the second (sparkling) fermentation and the bottles are stocked sur latte for two years |
| Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
| Alcohol: | 12% |
About The Producer
Lambert de Seyssel
The “Royal Seyssel” label, launched in 1901 by the Varichon and Clerc families, was considered the best sparkling Seyssel on the market. But when the operation was purchased in the 1990s by a Burgundian négociant, quality suffered, and in 2007 the owners closed the winery. Dismayed to see what their great local wine had come to, Gérard and Catherine Lambert teamed up with Olivier Varichon to buy back the Royal Seyssel label and recreate the wine that was once so renowned. The wines of Seyssel indulge in the same traditional methods used for Champagne, and take it a step further by aging for at least three years before disgorgement.
More from or France
2018 Pomerol “Clos Plince”
Château Gombaude-Guillot France | Bordeaux
2023 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
Rosé Extra Brut 1er Cru “Rosé de Saignée”
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
2021 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Les Cherbaudes”
Domaine Lucien Boillot et Fils France | Burgundy
2023 Pinot Blanc
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2021 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru “Les Fichots”
Domaine Follin-Arbelet France | Burgundy
2023 Pouilly-Fumé “Vieilles Vignes”
Régis Minet France | Loire
2019 Bandol Rouge “Saint Ferréol”
Domaine de la Tour du Bon France | Provence
2020 Chinon “Les Varennes du Grand Clos”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2023 Gigondas
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2023 Bourgogne Rouge “L’Ermitage”
Domaine de la Cadette France | Burgundy
2021 Bandol Rouge
“La Migoua”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2018 Pomerol “Clos Plince”
Château Gombaude-Guillot France | Bordeaux
2023 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
Rosé Extra Brut 1er Cru “Rosé de Saignée”
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
2023 Pinot Blanc
Kuentz-Bas France | Alsace
2021 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru “Les Fichots”
Domaine Follin-Arbelet France | Burgundy
2023 Pouilly-Fumé “Vieilles Vignes”
Régis Minet France | Loire
2019 Bandol Rouge “Saint Ferréol”
Domaine de la Tour du Bon France | Provence
2020 Chinon “Les Varennes du Grand Clos”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2023 Gigondas
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2023 Bourgogne Rouge “L’Ermitage”
Domaine de la Cadette France | Burgundy
2021 Bandol Rouge
“La Migoua”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
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