Coteau de la Mort, or "Hillside of Death" outside St. Jean de la Porte, hosts biodynamic vines of Nicholas Ferrand (vinetrail.co.uk)

The Mondeuse of Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte: Young winemakers Nicolas Ferrand & Julien Viana

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Ferrand in the cellar (vinetrail.co.uk)

BREAKING NEWS: There are only 9 bottles left of Nicolas Ferrand's thrilling Coteau de la Mort 2017 Mondeuse.Meaning by the time you finish reading this offer (or possibly this sentence) they'll most likely be gone... but do not fear! Our supplier of Domaine des Côtes Rousses has plenty of the 2018 vintage available - an equally delicious wine of dark fruits and flowers, zingy herbs, and strong Alpine structure. These top-of-the-line bottles by Ferrand, a young, self-proclaimed "paysan vigneron," rank among the best Mondeuse I've ever tasted - rivaling even Arbin legend, Louis Magnin. For the lucky ones who get both vintages, they will surely be a compelling side-by-side experience.

"The name of this cuvée refers to the steepness of the slope... and how physically demanding it is to work," writes Vine Trail, an importer of the domaine in the United Kingdom. The company explains that this vineyard was initially farmed by Benedictine monks beginning in the 11th century. Despite being known as a special site, it sat abandoned between the 1930s and its replanting in 1999. "The red clay soils on a limestone base tend to give firmly structured wines built for aging," Vine Trail adds. In my opinion, the '17 and '18 are remarkably tasty today, but, if a drinker should choose to cellar the wines, both will experience exceptional development over the course of a decade.

Cruet, where Jacquere reigns, sits bewtween Arbin and St-Jean-de-la-Porte, where the best Mondeuse is grown

When I compare the Mondeuse of Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte to those of Arbin, just a couple villages over in the Combe-de-Savoie, the former have more spice and herbal complexity on the nose and a more powerful mineral drive on the palate. They don't have as much weight on the tongue as Arbin wines but make up for that with their lively, snappy texture. These are my impressions, but I'm also still learning...

The 2017 Coteau de la Mort is a black cherry color with clear violet edges. The nose is a fragrant bouquet of dried roses, lavender, clove-spiked citrus, black pepper, red berries, eucalyptus, and charming menthol. An earthy aroma of pine and mulchy soil develops as the wine opens. On the palate, crisp fruits of cranberry and tart cherry are latched to a core of crunchy dark minerality. This zing will certainly soften attractively after a few years more in bottle, but a blast to taste today. On the finish, the fruit darkens but remains powerfully edgy, with small black plums and just-ripened blackberries. An herbal coolness sticks around after each sip. Acidity is healthy and tannin is well-placed, becoming chewier with time. A great, great, great wine.

Domaine des Côtes Rousses' 2018 Cotea de la Mort is more Syrah-like than it's previous vintage -  more savory in profile. Very similar in terms of fruit, besides the younger wine showing darker expressions earlier on. Extra peppery on the tongue, with strong tannic form and great acidity. A rounder wine than the '17, with a more generous swish, while retaining classic mineral strength. There is a long life ahead for this Mondeuse if you can resist opening your bottles... it's just so good!

Ferrand has always worked organically, but recently received his biodynamic certification from Demeter. He is constantly innovating in the cellar and experimenting with new low-intervention techniques. His Mondeuse on offer today aren't cheap, but they reflect the spectacular winemaking this domaine insists upon. Still, I wanted to include more affordable expression of Mondeuse from this little valley town in the Savoie - and I found the perfect one:

Julien Viana (living.wine)

Cellier de la Baraterie's 2018 Mondeuse from Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte is riper than Ferrand's. It's a plump reddish-purple in color. The nose has a juiciness to it, with a surprisingly rich aroma of dark stone fruit, balanced by the tell-tale smells of mint, dark flowers, and wintry spice. Over the evening, the fruit becomes quieter, taking on an elegant softness, allowing the brisker smells to come forward. On the palate, an undertone of dark plum peel is met by red cherry and cassis, cut by a clean, stony middle. Bright acid and medium tannin give this wine good lift, encouraging a fresh and long finish. The wine ends with simple but wonderful note of briny dark olive. A super Mondeuse for the price!

Cellier de la Baraterie is the work of Julien Viana, another fantastic young vigneron working in the Combe-de-Savoie. I first tasted his Cruet (100% Jacquere) many years ago and loved it. The majority of Viana's vineyards are organic, but those that aren't are in conversion to become organic. He also practices many biodynamic approaches in the fields. Like Ferrand, he uses only native yeasts to ferment all his wines. Like the 2017 Coteau de la Mort, the inventory reflected below is all we'll be able to get - so scoop up what you can!

A new generation of winemakers are pushing the envelope in this little part of the Savoie. Both Ferrand and Viana are developing incredibly exciting careers, bringing great farming to historically significant pieces of land, and delivering delicious products to customers around the world. Soon, both their names and wines will be well-known, owing much to these spectacular Mondeuse. Don't wait - try them today! David Hatzopoulos

**Also, you'll see Thomas Finot's stellar Persan is back in stock - but these fly!!! Most wines are available today - but those with dates will be available on those dates**

No Longer Available

Domaine des Côtes Rousses 2017 Coteau de la Mort Vin de Savoie Mondeuse (12/7)

100% Mondeuse from St.-Jean-de-la-Porte in the Combe de Savoie. The cuvée is named after the vineyard location, a treacherous slope to work that has been tended, on and off, since the 11th century. Whole bunches, native fermentation, and delegate in demi-muids for 10 months. Bottled with out fining or filtering. The 2017 Coteau de la Mort is a black cherry color with clear violet edges. The nose is a fragrant bouquet of dried roses, lavender, clove-spiked citrus, black pepper, red berries, eucalyptus, and charming menthol. An earthy aroma of pine and mulchy soil develops as the wine opens. On the palate, crisp fruits of cranberry and tart cherry are latched to a core of crunchy dark minerality. This zing will certainly soften attractively after a few years more in bottle, but a blast to taste today. On the finish, the fruit darkens but remains powerfully edgy, with small black plums and just-ripened blackberries. An herbal coolness sticks around after each sip. Acidity is healthy and tannin is well-placed, becoming chewier with time. A great, great, great wine. David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $58.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Domaine des Côtes Rousses 2018 Coteau de la Mort Vin de Savoie Mondeuse

100% Mondeuse from St.-Jean-de-la-Porte in the Combe de Savoie. The cuvée is named after the vineyard location, a treacherous slope to work that has been tended, on and off, since the 11th century. Whole bunches, native fermentation, and delegate in demi-muids for 10 months. Bottled with out fining or filtering. Domaine des Côtes Rousses' 2018 Cotuea de la Mort is more Syrah-like than it's previous vintage -  more savory in profile. Very similar in terms of fruit, besides the younger wine showing darker expressions earlier on. Extra peppery on the tongue, with strong tannic form and great acidity. A rounder wine than the '17, with a more generous swish, while retaining classic mineral strength. There is a long life ahead for this Mondeuse if you can resist opening your bottles... it's just so good! David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $66.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Cellier de la Baraterie 2018 Vin de Savoie St. Jean de la Porte Mondeuse

Cellier de la Baraterie's 2018 Mondeuse from Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte is riper than Ferrand's. It's a plump reddish-purple in color. The nose has a juiciness to it, with a surprsingly rich aroma of dark stone fruit, balanced by the tell-tale smells of mint, dark flowers, and wintry spice. Over the evening, the fruit becomes quieter, taking on an elegant softness, allowing the brisker smells to come forward. On the palate, an undertone of dark plum peel is met by red cherry and cassis, cut by a clean, stony middle. Bright acid and medium tannin give this wine good lift, encouraging a fresh and long finish. The wine ends with simple but wonderful note of briny dark olive. A super Mondeuse for the price! David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $25.99

  • Organic

Domaine Louis Magnin 2015 Vin de Savoie Arbin 'La Rouge' Mondeuse

From soils of mostly red clay mixed with limestone, under limestone scree. Hand harvested fruit, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks before being aged for 12 months in old oak foundres. La Rouge 2015 has a dark center and clear violet edges. Aromas of smoke and dense earth mingle with bold dark flowers (violets and roses) on the nose. There is a hint of fresh cut cedar and raw vanilla that leads to a lingering scent of coffee. The fruit on the palate is of crisp black cherry and cassis cut by a zing of salinity and dark stones. The structure here is slightly richer and rounder than the Tout un Monde, though slightly less snappy, with generous but leveled tannin and good acidity. The finish is incredible, with a touch of cigar smoke and a mintiness that remains on the palate... basically forever. David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $56.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Domaine Louis Magnin 2014 Vin de Savoie Arbin 'Tout un Monde' Mondeuse

From .7 ha of Domaine Louis Magnin's old vines (many planted at the beginning of the 20th century), planted to clay and limestone soils. Hand harvested fruit, fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel tanks before being aged in used demi-muids for 18 months. The 2014 Tout un Monde has a black core and red cherry edges in the glass. On the nose, the wine begins floral and soft, with wisps of herbs, and a mix of warm, milled espresso and shaved dark cocoa. Aromas of wild fruits, like blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry develop with air, leading to woodsy, healthy forest smells. The palate has a lovely spark of dark citrus. There is a foundation of black cherry, lean raspberry, and a great core of salt and graphite. Clean, medium-level acidity supports balanced tannin and an elegant swish. The finish hones back in on winter citrus and herbs, leaving the tongue perked and exhilarated. David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $67.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Domaine Louis Magnin 2015 Vin de Savoie Arbin Mondeuse

From several parcels in Arbin, vines planted to limestone-clay soils under unique limestone scree. Fruit is picked by hand and ferments naturally in stainless steel tanks. It is mostly aged in stainless, but a small portion sees neutral barrel. The 2015 Arbine Mondeuse is a dark plummy color with light red edges. The nose is spicy, with hints of black pepper and pine, above a foundation of black cherry fruit and loamy, minerally earth. Flavors of tart red fruit, mountain herbs, and smalls plums sit in refreshing form ontop a structure of semi-concentrated fruity swish, medium tannin and classic, linear Alpine acidity. David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $45.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Finot, Thomas 2018 Coteaux Grésivaudan (Isere) Persan

Thomas Finot produces this wine from Persan, a rare grape variety indigenous to the Isère, from a blend of massale selection old and young vines. The color here is dark, with a black/red core and light red edges. The nose has a vibrant mix of fruit and spices, including cumin, leafy green herbs, black pepper and deep, savory dark cherry. The palate is just as complex, with plum and orange peel, along with refreshing notes of mint and graphite. The minerally finish turns into something lingering and smoky. The wine is rather tannic, with great acidity. If you are fan of the Rhone, you must try Finot's Persan! David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $34.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur