Prieuré Saint Christophe

History of the Prieuré Saint Christophe

Michel Grisard was born and raised in Fréterive, in the heart of the Combe de Savoie, in a farming family that has cultivated the vine for several generations. From a long line of winemakers, he first worked at the family estate before leaving it in 1982 to found his own. He was driven by a deep and solitary conviction: at a time when Savoie swore only by Gamay, he firmly believed that Mondeuse was a great grape variety, capable of producing wines with ageing potential and depth. He founded the Domaine du Prieuré Saint Christophe on steep south-facing slopes, and began vinifying Mondeuse in a style entirely his own: finesse, depth, density and beautiful texture.

In the mid-1990s, numerous encounters with biodynamic winemakers and the impression left by their wines convinced Michel Grisard to convert his vineyard to biodynamics in 1994 — a practice then little known in Savoie. He also took part in the creation of the Domaine des Ardoisières and worked alongside Pierre Galet at the Centre d'Ampélographie Alpine, contributing to the preservation of forgotten Savoyard grape varieties. His work inspired an entire generation of winemakers well beyond the borders of Savoie. In 2015, after vinifying his final vintage, 2014, Michel Grisard retired. The Giachino brothers, renowned winemakers from the Combe de Savoie, took over the estate and carry on with passion and humility the immense legacy of this great winemaker.

Terroirs and Vines of the Prieuré Saint Christophe

The Prieuré Saint Christophe vineyard covers 6 hectares, situated on the steep slopes of Fréterive, in the Combe de Savoie, between Chambéry and Albertville. These fully south-facing slopes benefit from maximum sunshine, which is essential for bringing Mondeuse to full ripeness in this alpine context. The soils are composed of moraine and glacial rock, typical of Savoyard slopes, with calcareous, clay and gravelly elements that give the wines their characteristic mineral tension and freshness. The microclimate of the Combe de Savoie, channelled by the surrounding mountain relief, offers optimal conditions for the production of wines of character, with cool nights that preserve the natural acidity of the grapes.

Mondeuse noire represents the majority of the red vineyard — a noble Savoyard autochthonous grape variety with a genetic kinship with Syrah, producing wines with fine and silky tannins and aromas of cherry, tart strawberry, spices and pepper. Altesse, a typically Savoyard white grape variety, occupies the white plots of the estate. The entire vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 1994, with whole-cluster harvesting to preserve all the crunch, bite and finesse of the Mondeuse. Yields are low and controlled, allowing for natural concentration of the grapes.

Vinifications of the Prieuré Saint Christophe

The vinification philosophy of Michel Grisard, carried on by the Giachino brothers, is one of absolute respect for the grape and the terroir. Harvesting is done by hand, with rigorous selection in the vineyard. The grapes are vinified as whole clusters, with no destemming — a technique that preserves all the primary aromas, tannic finesse and characteristic crunch of Mondeuse. Fermentations take place with indigenous yeasts in artisanal-sized vats. Ageing is carried out in oak barrels for the keeping cuvées, with a variable duration depending on the cuvée and the vintage.

For the Altesse, pressing is direct and delicate; fermentation takes place in vats or barrels depending on the cuvée, with indigenous yeasts. The Mondeuse Tradition benefits from a shorter ageing period than the Mondeuse Prestige, which may need 5 to 10 years depending on the vintage to fully express itself. These wines, in particular the Mondeuse Prestige, have been compared by some tasters to the great wines of Cornas in their structure and depth, which testifies to the level of excellence achieved.

The cuvées of the Prieuré Saint Christophe

Savoie Altesse (White): A white cuvée made from Altesse, a typically Savoyard white grape variety, grown on the moraine terroirs of Fréterive. A dry white wine of great minerality and beautiful alpine freshness, with aromas of white flowers, almond, citrus and wet stone. A straight and taut palate, with a mineral salinity characteristic of great alpine terroirs. Ageing potential of several years. A gastronomic white, ideal with lake fish, fondues or aged Savoyard cheeses.

Savoie Mondeuse Tradition: The entry-level red cuvée, sourced from Mondeuse noire vinified as whole clusters. Cherry-red robe with violet hints, an expressive nose of concentrated cherries, tart strawberries, spices and pepper. A fresh and fruity palate, light and silky tannins, beautiful tension and a long finish. The wine in which the family resemblance to Syrah is most fully felt, in a lighter and more alpine style. Approachable in its youth, it can also age for 5 to 7 years. The introductory cuvée to the inimitable style of the Prieuré Saint Christophe.

Savoie Mondeuse Prestige: The estate's flagship red cuvée and absolute pinnacle, sourced from a selection of the finest Mondeuse noire plots on the steepest and most abrupt slopes of Fréterive. Vinified as whole clusters, aged at length in oak barrels. A wine of exceptional depth, density and finesse: complex aromas of black fruits, oriental spices, alpine garrigue and stony minerality. A broad and structured palate, fine and silky tannins of great nobility, an interminable mineral finish. Ageing potential of 10 to 20 years and beyond, depending on the vintage. The 1989 vintage, tasted at 20 years of age by Savoyard winemakers, received unanimous acclaim and was compared to the great Cornas wines in its power and precision. A collector's wine for lovers of France's finest mountain wines.