Domaine du Gringet 'Le Feu' 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 the most celebrated terroirs of the appellation, thanks to Dominique, who considered this his 'Hermitage', 'Le Feu' is a south-facing hillside notable for its high proportion of marl and clay. 

Previously a blended cuvée, 'Le Feu' is now a single-parcel wine. Utterly charming, it carries its sense of place through to its ripe fruit layers, cool Alpine minerality, beautiful texture, and considerable length.