The bubbly wine hails from a co-op of growers, based in a subregion of the Vin de Savoie appellation known as Chautagne – just about 30 miles southwest of Geneva. Deep in the alpine foothills, set between the cattle grazing highlands (that produce some of the world’s best cheeses) and the village of Serrières-en-Chautagne on the northern bank of the Lac du Bourget. Cool climate varieties thrive here, as mountain air travels down the slopes to settle over the alpine lake, and makes for an environment suited to varieties you are unlikely to find anywhere else. Like jacquère, for instance. Grown almost exclusively in this region, the grape produces low alcohol, bright wines that showcase both powerful richness and delicate floral aromas… sort of like the wine world’s answer to Chartreuse (also made nearby).

As this is from one of the nine regions (eight in France and one in Luxembourg) that can label their sparkling wines as Crémant, it is made in the same traditional method as Champagne, with a second fermentation inside the bottle. This wine beautifully combines a lion’s share of Savoie’s indigenous jacquère grapes, with 10% each of gamay and pinot noir. This is quite different from, I daresay, any other bubbly you’ve ever had! That’s a good thing, of course, and at a price like this… what better time to expand ever further into the great wide world of bubbles!?!? This brut-level wine showcases a kaffir lime and jasmine floral bouquet, with alpine meadow herbs and wildflowers like gentiane, edelweiss, and pansy. In the mouth, the wine is more vinous in style, with weight and structure balancing with a vibrant vivacity of rhubarb pie and Meyer lemon curd, with brûléed grapefruits. Super cool, thought provoking stuff that simply shouldn’t be missed!