Chignin-Bergeron Roussanne "Grand Orgue" Louis Magnin 2017

Domaine Louis Magnin, Arbin 

Louis Magnin is the third generation of the domaine of some 8-hectares spread between Arbin and Montmélian. Organic since 2009, he also started working biodynamically in certain vineyard parcels from 2007 after he attended a conference in Switzerland with friend Michel Grisard.

When in Savoie, the search for the best Mondeuse will lead to the village of Arbin, the home of this most intriguing grape (more on its origins below). In Arbin, Louis Magnin is a true specialist of this variety and  55% of his Domaine is devoted to Mondeuse, all planted within the confines of Arbin in the sector known as the “Combe de Savoie”. A further 30% of the vineyards are dedicated to the Roussanne grape, known locally as “Bergeron”, all of which are situated in the neighbouring village of Montmélian, equally renowned for its affinity to the Bergeron variety. The remaining 15% of the holdings are Altesse and Gamay.

Louis and his wife, Béatrice, as mentioned, practice organic viticulture with some biodynamic principles. The vineyards largely face south-southeast and are planted on steeply-sloping hillside sites on clay and limestone mix with an overlay of scree. Almost all vineyard work must be done by hand.

The resulting wines have an impressive fullness and energy but most of all have great ageing potential and deserve to be drunk after a few years in the cellar.

The Roussanne vines used to produce the Chignin Bergeron are planted in a series of sites comprising about 2.75 hectares on steep slopes within the confines of Montmélian, part of the “Combe de Savoie”. The harvest is entirely manual; the grapes are pressed whole and racked off the heavy lies for the alcoholic fermentation; the malolactic follows and the wine is left on the fine lies in stainless steel until bottling; no sulfur is added during this process except for a small dosage at the moment of bottling.

Stylistically, the “Grande Orgue” is ripe and rich without giving up the discipline that makes these wines of the Savoie so compelling. The aromas speak of wild flowers and honeysuckle and warm apricot while the palate is marked by notes of anise preceding a penetrating finish of bristling minerality.

Grape: 100% Roussanne

Organic