This week was Swiss and “Savoyard” for the Vicky Wine Tasters! In a very Rock’n'Roll atmosphere supported by “Rock My Thursday” evening at the Victoria Cross, we’ve let the wine flow!

Focusing on the rare and the unknown… we gave a go to the wines from Swiss And Savoie. Savoie is a region touching Switzerland, at the East of the Rhône not too far from Geneva. Union create strenght, the two have many similarities so it was a good alliance for the tasting.

Not that I am a Savoie geek…I was learning and  asked the best guides you can find: Wink Lorsh, that came up with a once very popular sparkling ROYAL SEYSSEL and another jewel from the AOC Marin in Haute Savoie : the Domaine DELALEX.

• ROYAL SEYSSEL by Gérard Lambert de Seyssel.

Royal Seyssel is the only wine that can carry the adjective “Royal” in the Seyssel region. Not so surprising when you know that before becoming an official appelation, what is the first AOC ever created in Savoie (1942), was already famous back at the time of the Queen Victoria.

All stories convey to the same idea: Royal Seyssel really is the King of Seyssel wines! So Gerard Lambert, wine maker, has decided to treat it the way it should. This sparkling is made the same way as Champagne and stayed over 4 years “sur lattes”. Sur lattes meaning that the bottles of wine are horizontals in the cellar after the first fermentation. Before laying down, Yeasts have been added to the wine so that it can go to another fermentation, the one that will later allow som ise bubbles in the wine.

Made of two very rare grapes Altesse and Molette, the 2006 vintage has a very thin and light bubble, an envelopping texture and reconforting notes of nuts and butter. Add up flowers and you have a delicate wine perfect to make it up for the coming cold winter. Very good quality for money, this is a wine that deserved the recognition it doesn’t have… so I suggest you give it a go

Domaine Delalex, Royal Seyssel for Savoie

• Domaine DELALEX

Domaine Delalex is part another unknown rare world of Haute Savoie, one of such a quality that you will want to talk about it if you ever are to talk about the wine region.

In the AOC Marin, that is mainly filled in with the Chasselas Grape, you have simple dry whites. The affordable kind, easy drinking, seducing on the palate and perfect to match with fondue cheeses and raclette. At the domaine Delalex, 3/4 of the production of Chasselas gives birth to the “Tradition” wine, that you will have pleasure to drink with winter dishes or on its own during summer.

> Read the tasting note: http://www.taste-a-wine.com/fr/degustation/2698/fr/domaine-delalex/tradition/2008/par-missvickywine

Marin - Clos de Pont, Domaine Delalex

Now there is another wine at Delalex, the « Clos de Pont »… it is still the A.O.C Marin, but a wine made out of a specific field, on a slop at less altitude, next to the river and on rocks. I have been falling in love with it, opening my mouth of amazement after the first sip. Fresh, crisp, intense, it is a revolution to your palate. Mineral and fruity, you feel a breath of the Savoie Hights, magical! City friends, you need a bowl of fresh air? Get one now!

> Read the Tasting Note: http://www.taste-a-wine.com/fr/degustation/2699/fr/domaine-delalex/clos-de-pont/2008/par-missvickywine

It will match with fishes, shells, and whatever you like. It’s how it goes with good wine!

Savoie Wines Fan