Domaine Les Aricoques

Savoie

For a label that only began with the 2021 vintage, the duo of Romain Dupont and Guillaume Bellon have sure generated incredible excitement amongst wine lovers. The high school friends took over the farming of a nearly-5-hectare vineyard in Frangy (the locals are dubbed "Frangypans", hence the exuberance behind PAN!) within the Haute-Savoie.

It definitely draws our attention when young winemakers spend their formative years in dominant wine-producing regions - in the case of Romain and Guillaume, that includes the Rhône and New Zealand - and return to their home regions and implement what they've learned; the subtext there is the great hope of the producer to elevate their native appellations' wines and, by virtue of increasing the quality, thereby the notoriety as well!

They are in the extended process of converting their new home vineyard to biodynamic viticulture, which is in their estimation, paramount to creating the finest wines, especially given the poor soils that greatly reduce yields.

The new release, as alluded to earlier, re-introduces the PAN! line of wines: Altesse, a native grape to the Savoie, is complex and exotic in aromas, naturally low-yielding and bright With the duo's guiding hands, 50 year old vines and the 6 months in concrete eggs, this version of Altesse possesses a beautiful, luscious texture akin to Roussanne (but with acid for days!).

Le Rouze is entirely Gamay, with a focus on the freshness of the grape. Coming from the same poor soils, already Gamay here takes on a beautifully, compact, complex flavor of red fruit and spice, but the grapes see very little extraction before their fermenting in egg-shaped vats. There are some whole clusters maintained, which provide that lifted, delicate spice aromatically. The color may more closely resemble a rosé, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's anything less than seriously delicious.

THE 2023 VINTAGE - SATELLITE COLLECTION

Only a couple years into our partnership, we received the text that no importer, wine fan or really anybody ever wishes to see: a tornado whipped through the Savoie, causing a near-total loss in the vineyards in late July of 2023. Grapes are not the sort of thing you can whip together overnight, as each vine is a living embodiment of long-term investment, benefitting greatly from time with its soil and its vignerons. Yet Romain and Guillaume dusted themselves off, assessed the damages, and pivoted with some help from their friends.

Per the Domaine: "In mythology, Saturn represents patience, wisdom, and rigor essential qualities in viticulture. As a planet with spectacular rings, Saturn is surrounded by many natural satellites, each with unique characteristics, just like the vineyard plots that produce these cuvées. Atlas, Rhea, Methone, Dione, and Calypso evoke exploration. Just as satellites orbit Saturn, each of these single-vineyard cuvées tells a story that reaches beyond the Aricoques estate while carrying the same intent and remaining deeply connected to our core expertise and savoir-faire."

"Just as satellites stay in orbit around Saturn due to subtle gravitational forces, these cuvées remain closely tied to the estate through a shared philosophy. Each cuvée is crafted with the same care, respect for the grape, and pursuit of excellence as wines made from the estate’s own vines. This approach reveals a captivating balance: the satellite cuvées revolve “outside” but always “around” the estate. They enrich the estate’s identity while broadening its horizons, demonstrating that diversity and openness are strengths that enhance the whole."

We are proud to be able to continue our partnership with vignerons so dedicated and respectful of their land and that of their friends that they would only choose to continue with the vintage if they could source from like-minded (read: respectful) vignerons. Knowing their work, the 2023s from Romain and Guillaume are sure to excite and be endlessly satiating!

"Look, to be honest, none of our imports have been more hotly requested than those of Domaine des Aricoques; we've been hot on the tail of our friends to refuel us so we can keep all of their loyal fans sated!"

Current Releases

The Wines of Domaine Les Aricoques

Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

ASSEMBLAGE 65% Altesse & 35% Jacquere via negoce from Sébastien Thevenet (in Chautagne) and Jacquere from Vincent Gateau (in Abymes), both certified organic.

SOIL Limestone molasse (Thevenet) and limestone scree (Gateau), similar to the Domaine's soil.

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct pressing, Settling in 12 hours. Fermentation in stainless steel.

AGING 6 months on the lees in tank.

BOTTLES PRODUCED 4000

Roussette de Savoie

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Roussette de Savoie

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Roussette de Savoie

ASSEMBLAGE 100% Altesse

SOIL Glacier Moraine, South and Southwest facing vineyards

VINE AGE 50+ year-old vines

FERMENTATION Direct pressing, settling in 12 hours. Fermentation in 400L 4-5 year old Champagne barrels

AGING Aged 12 months in 400L barrels and 6 months in large concrete tank; no filtration before bottling

BOTTLES PRODUCED 3800

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Atlas Aligote, VdF

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Atlas Aligote, VdF

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Atlas Aligote, VdF

ASSEMBLAGE 100% Aligote

SOIL Pink Granite

GROWER & TERROIR Famille Bouchard - Bissey-sous-Cruchard, Saune-et-Loire

FERMENTATION Slow pneumatic pressing followed by cold settling for 24 hours, fermentation occurring in large oak vats

AGING Aged 10 months within large oak vats. The wines will be lightly filtered and lightly sulfured at bottling.

Rhea, Vin de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Rhea, Vin de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Rhea, Vin de Savoie

ASSEMBLAGE 65% Altesse, 35% Jacquere

SOIL Molasse - marine-influenced sandstone & shale.

GROWER & TERROIR Sebastien Thevenet - Motz, Chautagne/Savoie

FERMENTATION Pneumatic pressing followed by 24-hour cold settling. Fermentation occurs in 400-liter barrels

AGING 10 months on the lees within 400L barrels. The wines will be lightly filtered and lightly sulfured at bottling.

Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

ASSEMBLAGE 85% Gamay & 15% Mondeuse from the Domaine, with Gamay from Thibault Charnay, certified organic.

SOIL Moraine (domaine) and limestone-clay soils (Charnay).

VINE AGE 50+ year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct-pressed for about 2/3 of grapes; short maceration of whole clusters.

AGING 6 months in tank.

BOTTLES PRODUCED 10000

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

ASSEMBLAGE 85% Gamay & 15% Mondeuse from the Domaine, with Gamay from Thibault Charnay, certified organic.

SOIL Moraine (domaine) and limestone-clay soils (Charnay).

VINE AGE 50+ year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct-pressed for about 2/3 of grapes; short maceration of whole clusters.

AGING 6 months in tank.

BOTTLES PRODUCED 10000

Rouge, Vin de Savoie

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Rouge, Vin de Savoie

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Rouge, Vin de Savoie

CT

91

ASSEMBLAGE 20% Gamay 80% Mondeuse

SOIL Glacier Moraine, South and Southwest facing vineyards

VINE AGE 30 year old vines

FERMENTATION 90% De-stemmed, 10 days of maceration with a short daily pump over

AGING 1 year in 350L 2 year old barrels, no filtration before bottling

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Dione, Vin de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Dione, Vin de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Dione, Vin de Savoie

ASSEMBLAGE 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Gamay

SOIL Clay-Limestone

GROWER & TERROIR Damien Bastian - Leman, Savoie

FERMENTATION Semi-carbonic maceration with entirely whole cluster; 10 day maceration in total.

AGING 10 months in 228L barrels. The wines will be lightly filtered and lightly sulfured at bottling.

Methone Mondeuse, Vin de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Methone Mondeuse, Vin de Savoie

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Methone Mondeuse, Vin de Savoie

ASSEMBLAGE 100% Mondeuse

GROWER & TERROIR Sebastien Thevenet - Motz, Chautagne/Savoie

SOIL Molasse - marine-influenced sandstone & shale.

FERMENTATION "Sandwich" maceration with whole clusters on top and bottom. 80% de-stemmed, with rounds of pigeage. 10 day maceration in total.

AGING 10 months in egg-shaped concrete tanks (two-thirds) & barrels. (one third). The wines will be lightly filtered and lightly sulfured at bottling.

Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

CT

91

Altesse, a native grape to the Savoie, is complex and exotic in aromas, naturally low-yielding and bright With the duo's guiding hands, 50 year old vines and the 6 months in concrete eggs, this version of Altesse possesses a beautiful, luscious texture akin to Roussanne (but with acid for days!).

ASSEMBLAGE | Altesse

SOIL Moraine

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct pressing, Settling in 12 hours. Fermentation in egg-shaped vats.

AGING 6 months in concrete eggs post-fermentation.

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie

Altesse, a native grape to the Savoie, is complex and exotic in aromas, naturally low-yielding and bright With the duo's guiding hands, 50 year old vines and the 6 months in concrete eggs, this version of Altesse possesses a beautiful, luscious texture akin to Roussanne (but with acid for days!).

ASSEMBLAGE | Altesse

SOIL Moraine

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct pressing, Settling in 12 hours. Fermentation in egg-shaped vats

AGING 6 months concrete eggs

BOTTLES PRODUCED 8000

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie 3L

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Altesse, Roussette de Savoie 3L

ASSEMBLAGE 65% Altesse & 35% Jacquere via negoce from Sébastien Thevenet (in Chautagne) and Jacquere from Vincent Gateau (in Abymes), both certified organic.

SOIL Limestone molasse (Thevenet) and limestone scree (Gateau), similar to the Domaine's soil.

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct pressing, Settling in 12 hours. Fermentation in stainless steel.

AGING 6 months on the lees in tank.

BOTTLES PRODUCED 4000

Roussette de Savoie

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Roussette de Savoie

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Roussette de Savoie

ASSEMBLAGE Altesse

SOIL Glacier Moraine, South and Southwest facing vineyards

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct pressing, settling in 12 hours. Fermentation in 400L 4-5 year old Champagne barrels

AGING 1 year on the lees, no filtration before bottling

Atlas Aligote, VdF

Rhea, Vin de Savoie

Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF Gamay

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF Gamay

Le Rouze is entirely Gamay, with a focus on the freshness of the grape. Coming from the same poor soils, already Gamay here takes on a beautifully, compact, complex flavor of red fruit and spice, but the grapes see very little extraction before their fermenting in egg-shaped vats. There are some whole clusters maintained, which provide that lifted, delicate spice aromatically. The color may more closely resemble a rosé, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's anything less than seriously delicious.

ASSEMBLAGE Gamay

SOIL Moraine

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION 80% de-stemmed

AGING 6 months in concrete eggs post-fermatation.

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

2022 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF

Le Rouze is entirely Gamay, with a focus on the freshness of the grape. Coming from the same poor soils, already Gamay here takes on a beautifully, compact, complex flavor of red fruit and spice, but the grapes see very little extraction before their fermenting in egg-shaped vats. There are some whole clusters maintained, which provide that lifted, delicate spice aromatically. The color may more closely resemble a rosé, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's anything less than seriously delicious.

ASSEMBLAGE Gamay

SOIL Moraine

VINE AGE 50 year old vines

FERMENTATION 60-70% De-stemmed

AGING 6 months concrete eggs

BOTTLES PRODUCED 8000

All too refreshing, pair this with a cool evening breeze, a juicy burger, or dress it up for a beautiful ribeye.

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF 3L

2023 Domaine Les Aricoques, Pan! Le Rouze, VdF 3L

ASSEMBLAGE 85% Gamay & 15% Mondeuse from the Domaine, with Gamay from Thibault Charnay, certified organic.

SOIL Moraine (domaine) and limestone-clay soils (Charnay).

VINE AGE 50+ year old vines

FERMENTATION Direct-pressed for about 2/3 of grapes; short maceration of whole clusters.

AGING 6 months in tank.

BOTTLES PRODUCED 10000

Rouge, Vin de Savoie

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Rouge, Vin de Savoie

2021 Domaine Les Aricoques, Rouge, Vin de Savoie

CT

91

ASSEMBLAGE 20% Gamay 80% Mondeuse

SOIL Glacier Moraine, South and Southwest facing vineyards

VINE AGE 30 year old vines

FERMENTATION 90% De-stemmed, 10 days of maceration with a short daily pump over

AGING 1 year in 350L 2 year old barrels, no filtration before bottling

Dione, Vin de Savoie

Methone Mondeuse, Vin de Savoie