An alpine stunner. Notes of wild red fruits, dried strawberry with earth & spice undertones. The tannins are supple and acidity is racy, providing freshness and lift to this 11 year old Gamay from Valais, Switzerland.

I first read about Jaques Granges of Domaine de Beudon in the book, God Foresaken Grapes. Sadly, Jaques passes away in 2016 from a freak accident but his wife, Marion, and children continue to run the winery. Domaine de Beudon is a remarkable place; a pint-sized farm perched on the steep side of a towering rocky mountain, isolated from all else and locally known as the “vineyard in the sky”. The property, which sits above the commune of Fully, was planted in 1947, with wine production commencing in 1971. Beudon means 'Belly', aptly fitting since it's like an Eagle's nest perched over the Rhone Valley. Completely isolated by high cliffs over 800 meters above sea level, the Domaine is only accessible by foot or small cable car. Granges was the first to switch to Biodynamics in Switzerland in 1992. There is no wood used on any of the wines. Vinification and aging take place in stainless steel and via indigenous yeasts. The whites are pressed up on the mountain and the juice is brought down to the valley floor for fermentation. The reds are put in tanks and the entire tanks are brought down on cables for fermentation.