Domaine du Gringet 'La Paille' 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.

From a south-facing, sunny terroir planted with old vines (between 1929 and 1931). After gentle pressing and vinification with native yeasts, the wine is aged in concrete eggs before seeing a further 10-month maturation in bottle.

A powerful cuvée with layers of crystal-cut stone fruit and citrus alongside a powdery texture and racy acids – one of the ultimate expressions of Gringet.