Prieuré Saint Christophe

Wines from Prieuré Saint Christophe: buy at the best price

Domaine du Prieuré Saint Christophe is one of the absolute legends of Savoyard viticulture, founded and brought to its peak by Michel Grisard, a towering figure and true monument of the Alpine wine world. Established in Fréterive, at the heart of the Combe de Savoie, since the 1980s, Michel Grisard dedicated his life to demonstrating that Mondeuse — an indigenous red grape variety that had fallen out of favour — was capable of producing wines of great ageing potential, deep, linear and with a precision comparable to the greatest red wines of France. A pioneer of biodynamics in Savoie from 1994, co-founder of Domaine des Ardoisières and the Centre d'Ampélographie Alpine with Pierre Galet to preserve forgotten Savoyard grape varieties, Michel Grisard took his bow in 2015 after vinifying the 2014 vintage. Since that date, the Giachino brothers, highly regarded winemakers in the region, have taken up the torch with the fervent intention of perpetuating this exceptional know-how. 

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Prieuré Saint Christophe Altesse 2020
2 in stock
114414
White
75cl
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Savoie | Vin des Allobroges

Prieuré Saint Christophe Altesse 2020

€24.00 inc-VAT per bottle
€20.00 ex-VAT

History of 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 been cultivating 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 guided 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 aging potential and depth. He founded the Domaine du Prieuré Saint Christophe on steep south-facing hillsides, and began vinifying Mondeuse in a style all 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 participated 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 in 2014, Michel Grisard retired. The Giachino brothers, renowned winemakers from the Combe de Savoie, took over the estate and continue with passion and humility the immense legacy of this great winemaker.

Terroirs and Vines of Prieuré Saint Christophe

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

Mondeuse noire represents the bulk of the red vineyard, a native Savoyard grape variety of great nobility, genetically related to Syrah and producing wines with fine, silky tannins and aromas of cherry, tangy strawberry, spices and pepper. Altesse, a typically Savoyard white grape variety, occupies the estate's white parcels. The entire vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 1994, with whole-cluster harvesting to preserve all the crunchiness, bite and finesse of Mondeuse. Yields are deliberately low, ensuring natural concentration in the grapes.

Vinifications of Prieuré Saint Christophe

The winemaking philosophy of Michel Grisard, perpetuated 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 bunches, unstemmed, a technique that preserves all the primary aromas, tannic finesse and the characteristic crunchiness of Mondeuse. Fermentations take place with indigenous yeasts in artisanal-sized vats. Aging is carried out in oak barrels for the cellar-worthy cuvées, with a variable duration depending on the cuvée and the vintage.

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

The cuvées of Prieuré Saint Christophe

Savoie Altesse (White): A white cuvée made from Altesse, a typically Savoyard white grape variety, grown on the morainic 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, taut palate with a characteristic mineral salinity typical of great alpine terroirs. Aging potential of several years. A gastronomic white, ideal with lake fish, fondues or aged Savoyard cheeses.

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

Savoie Mondeuse Prestige: The estate's flagship red cuvée and absolute pinnacle, drawn from a selection of the finest Mondeuse noire parcels on the steepest and most abrupt hillsides 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 full, structured palate with fine, silky tannins of great nobility, and an unending, mineral finish. Aging potential of 10 to 20 years and beyond depending on the vintage. The 1989 vintage, tasted at 20 years of age by Savoyard winemakers, drew unanimous acclaim and was compared to the great Cornas wines in its power and precision. A collector's wine for lovers of France's greatest mountain wines.

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