DOMAINE DU GRINGET
Ayze
Savoie
Dominique had taken over the estate in 1988, elevating Gringet from a notoriously average sparkling wine to a world-class, age-worthy wine with personality and a sense of place. After his sudden departure, and without an immediate successor to take over, the estate precipitated in a state of emergency while the season was in full swing.
With this in mind, and after having taken the decision to not vinify the 2021 harvest, Valérie Belluard opened up to the idea of a sale in the autumn. Investors began to come knocking, but she was categorical: “even if the Belluard page is turned, the work put in by Dominique must be perpetuated through a grower, rather than a brand.”
Amongst the many young talents to apply, Vincent Ruiz, a 26 year old who had been working side by side with Franck Balthazar in Cornas for over four years, was the one to succeed.
With the arrival of the spring of 2022, and after months of back and forth from Cornas to Ayse, Vincent finally left the Rhône to relocate in the Arve valley and fully take charge of the vegetative cycle. At the same time, the choice of a new name for the domaine is made. Induced by the incredible singularity of the grape variety at the heart of this whole adventure, the decision was somewhat obvious, and so Domaine du Gringet was born.
The vines Vincent inherited have been worked without chemicals for over twenty years, with Dominique being one of precursors of organic viticulture in the Alps. Following his predecessor’s steps, Vincent did a masterful job in the way of lifting and greening the vines, as well as introducing innovative, gentler and non-mutilating training and pruning techniques. In order to avoid soil compaction and restore biodiversity, he decided to abandon the use of tractors and allow wild grasses to roam free between the vineyards.
In the cellar he favours long pressings, followed by light cold settling for the whites. Everything is vatted in concrete or ceramic vessels whilst fermenting and aged on fine lees without any racking until bottling. For the reds, Vincent stayed true to his northern Rhône origins, processing whole clusters which undergo long (2-3 weeks) macerations with gentle extraction.
Les Perles du Mont Blanc
Vintage 2019
Style Sparkling
Region Ayze
Varieties Gringet
ABV 12.5%
Soils Yellow marl, white marl
Farming Organic, practicing biodynamic
Winemaking Traditional method Gringet which spends 24 months on fine lees and non-dosé at disgorgement. The grapes come from vines located around the estate, planted on the iconic yellow and white marls.
Tasting Note White pears and fresh cream notes blend in with savoury dried herbs and wet stones. Beautiful freshness and length.
Ayze Mont Blanc
Vintage 2019
Style Sparkling
Region Ayze
Varieties Gringet
ABV
Soils
Farming Organic, practicing biodynamic
Winemaking
Tasting Note
Eponyme
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Ayze
Varieties Gringet
ABV 12%
Soils Yellow marl, white marl, limestone scree
Farming Organic, practicing biodynamic
Winemaking Eponyme is the hommage cuvée to Dominique Belluard. An assemblage of the lieu-dits Chez Reydet, Pré Milleret and Vers Etraz planted on a mix of yellow and white marl and limestone scree. Direct pressed Gringet feeds into concrete eggs. Raised on fine lees for 18 months un-racked, then blended and bottled by none other than Jean-François Ganevat.
Tasting Note Yellow plums, crunchy apples and white flower notes lend to fresh nutty hints and a mouthwatering acidity.
Monsieur Gringet
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Ayze
Varieties Gringet
ABV 12%
Soils Yellow marl, limestone scree, red marl, clay
Farming Organic, practicing biodynamic
Winemaking This is the domaine’s Cru equivalent made with grapes from the hillside vineyards planted at older vines. Fruit is sourced for three main sites La Paille (white marls), Chez Eduard (limestone scree) and Le Feu (red marls and iron-rich red clay). Slow direct pressing and vatting in concrete to ferment dry. The wine is aged in egg-shaped concrete vats for 18 months. The label was specifically chosen by Valérie Belluard and designed by celebrated French cartoonist Michel Tolmer.
Tasting Note White pears, spiced lemon and stone fruit notes lend to savoury waxy tones and sesame seed hints. Sizzling alpine acidity matched by a complex concentrated palate.