Domaine du Gringet 'Etraz' 2022

By single-handedly restoring abandoned vineyards around the village of Ayse in the Haute-Savoie, Dominique Belluard turned Gringet – a rare Alpine grape variety previously used for unexciting fizz – into a world-class wine. Sadly, Dominique passed away in 2021, but his legacy still lives on.

Taking over the estate are Raphaël Bennour and Miguel Sarzier (two former distributors of Belluard’s wines), alongside Cornas winemaker Franck Balthazar and his young cellarmaster Vincent Ruiz, who have called their project Domaine du Gringet in honour of the grape for which Dominique was most famous. 2022 marks Vincent's first vintage at the helm.

'Etraz' – whose fruit was previously used for Dominique's 'Mont Blanc' sparkling wine – is pressed gently for 7 hours and fermented with native yeasts. After ageing for 9 months on fine lees in concrete vats, it spends 10 months in bottle.

Creamy orchard fruit and delicate floral scents are off-set by earthy minerals and bracing acidity – a cool, refined Gringet that will blossom with bottle age.