Roussette de Savoie, Les Aricoques 2023

Domaine Les Aricoques is one of the exciting young names to emerge from Savoie in recent years, founded in 2021 by childhood friends Guillaume Bellon and Romain Dupont. After gaining experience across different sides of the wine world, the pair took over a tiny 4.8ha estate in Frangy, Haute-Savoie, determined to explore the potential of this remarkable Alpine terroir. Their vineyards sit around 450m altitude on south-facing glacial moraine slopes, planted predominantly with the local varieties Altesse, Jacquère, Mondeuse and Gamay. Farming is organic with biodynamic practices, while cellar work remains deliberately gentle: ambient yeast fermentations, restrained extraction and ageing across stainless steel, concrete, foudres and older barrels, with sulphur used sparingly. The wines have a distinctly Alpine character — pure, energetic and mineral, balancing ripe fruit with freshness and tension. Despite only releasing their first vintage in 2021, Les Aricoques has quickly become one of the names to watch in the new generation of Savoie producers. A beautifully precise expression of 100% Altesse, from old vines rooted in the glacial moraine soils around Frangy. The grapes are directly pressed and fermented in older 400L barrels before ageing for around a year on the lees, building texture while retaining the variety’s natural freshness. Quince, ripe pear and lemon are joined by elderflower, chamomile and subtle Alpine herbs, with a gentle chalky character underneath. The palate is textured and quietly concentrated, balanced by vibrant acidity and a distinctly stony, saline minerality. Elegant, energetic and bone dry, with a long citrus-driven finish — a serious and wonderfully pure expression of Savoie Altesse. Producer Guillaume Bellon of Les Aricoques Origin Frangy, Savoie, France Grapes Altesse Vintage 2023 Alcohol 11% Style Fresh, clean lifted white Bottle size 75 cl Winemaking Hand harvested, Spontaneous fermentation of mostly destemmed grapes, fermented in cement vats and aged in the same vessel. Unfiltred, unfined and little SO2 added at bottling. Notes Natural, Biodynamic, Organic