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www.buyersandcellars.ca Cellar Profile
In the mid 1700s, Bernardin Charrère moved from the Haute Savoie in Southeast France to the Aosta Valley and established Les Crêtes, a mill and farm in Aymavilles. This was in the middle of the 21 square mile Aosta Valley, in the heart of the wine region. In 1810, the family planted 2 hectares of vinifera grapes and the winery was born. The family still continues to craft wines from those vineyards to this day. Les Crêtes is the largest privately-owned winery in the region, but would be considered “boutique” in most other regions around the world. It has been at the forefront of searching out rare, indigenous vinifera varieties and helping protect them from extinction. Grapes like Prie Rouge, Mayolet, Cornalin, Premetta and Fumin exist nowhere else in the world and Les Crêtes, along with the rest of the tiny vignerons in the region, has worked with the Italian government to preserve them. This is one of the most challenging regions on earth to work for wine, with non-contiguous vineyards frequently planted on ledges on the side of steep Alpine mountains where they can find a little sandy soil. Hot summer days and extremely cool nights, coupled with a dry growing season allow for some of the longest hang times on earth. Les Crêtes has consistently been recognized as the finest producer in the region and a destination spot for wine lovers. Their wines are powerful, yet elegant, with their trademark salty minerality – a true representation of the terroir of the Val d’Aosta.
Region
Italy’s smallest wine region, Valle d’Aosta is a tiny narrow strip of vineyard located northwest of Piedmont in the shadows of the Alps. This is one of the most challenging regions on earth to work for wine, with non-contiguous vineyards planted frequently on ledges on the side of steep Alpine mountains where they can find a little sandy soil. The extreme elevation, heroic vineyard work and particularity of the ancient, autochthonous vines make bringing in outside help difficult. You will find the vast majority of vines planted on their own rootstocks, for phylloxera does not survive at these altitudes. Similar to wine regions like Alsace and Alto-Adige, Valle d’Aosta is a hybrid of cultures: Italian, French and, to a lesser extent, Swiss. Vineyards here are predominately planted with local, indigenous varieties like Fumin, Prie Blanc, Petite Arvine and Petit Rouge. You will also find smatterings of Chardonnay, Nebbiolo, Syrah and other more widely-planted grapes. The wines offer a brilliant combination of weight, complexity and tingling acidity that make them a natural fit on the lunch or dinner table.
Vineyard
A proprietary blend of indigenous red grapes planted in the village of Aymavilles, right next to the winery. Farmed sustainably on sandy soils from vines up to 70 years old, planted at 2,200 feet elevation.
Varieties
A unique blend of indigenous and international grape varieties, including Petit Rouge, Gamaret, Fumin, Pinot Noir and Mayolet.
Winemaking
Picked by hand and vinified separately, the grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness, while still ensuring balancing acidity. After a long, slow fermentation on the skins, the wines are racked and aged in stainless steel to preserve primary fruit.
Tasting Notes
Bold aromas of ripe strawberry, red plum and black licorice. On the palate, this is robust and hearty, with flavours of blackberry, strawberry, coca and crunchy minerality. There’s that signature bit of saltiness on the finish that all Les Crêtes wines have. A ripe and ready sipping wine, this is also a great wine to pair with a rack of ribs or backyard barbecues.