Humagne Rouge from Chamoson 2023 - 75cl - AOC Valais - Domaine des Petites Planètes
Cuvée from an old vine of the Humagne Rouge grape variety. 13% vol.
On allocation max 6 bts per client.
Due to the small quantity produced, this cuvee is limited to 6 bottles per customer per vintage. Thank you for your understanding.
Derived from a centuries-old cross in the Aosta Valley between Cornalin and an unknown grape variety, Humagne Rouge crossed the Great Saint Bernard Pass to establish itself in Valais. Although its arrival is relatively recent (end of the 19th century), it quickly established itself as the second great red wine of Valais, after Cornalin.
Vigorous and late-maturing, Humagne Rouge produces vintages with a strong character. When the opportunity arose to work this plot of Humagne Rouge on the terroir of Prés des Pierres in Chamoson, it was a unique chance to highlight this grape variety. My ambition was to create a wine that combines indulgence and concentration, revealing all the richness and depth of Humagne Rouge in this exceptional terroir.
This wine was born in Switzerland. Here, no synthetic inputs, neither in the vineyard nor in the cellar. Instead, it is the herbal infusions, fermented extracts and compost tea that watch over the vine, like benevolent companions, gently accompanying it at each stage of the season in addition to copper and sulfur to limit the spread of mildew and powdery mildew. Thus, this wine breathes the land that saw it grow, free and sincere, in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Altitude of the plot 540 meters
Harvested by hand on September 29, 2023
Indigenous yeasts
Aged for 12 months in oak barrels
996 bottles
Grape variety
100% Humagne Rouge.
Vinification
A little SO2 at harvest time, incorporation of a native yeast starter during the day, one trapping per day during fermentation, pressing after 15 days of maceration.
Added 10 mg/L of SO2 after malolactic fermentation, light filtration 1 week before bottling, adjusted to 25 mg/L of free SO2.
Bottled on December 5, 2024.
Tasting
In a gourmet style, this garnet-red Humagne reveals a fine and elegant nose, marked by notes of violet and cherry. On the palate, it offers a beautiful dynamic of red fruits, followed by a subtle finish on cherry pits. This fruity wine will go wonderfully with an autumn dish, especially your game dishes, for a harmonious combination of freshness and aromatic depth.
Storage
This is a wine for lovers of characterful wines, to be enjoyed young, on the fruit. However, after three to eight years of storage, it reveals all its complexity and pairs perfectly with game dishes, making it an ideal companion for autumn meals.
Vintage 2023 in Valais
The vintage 2023 was like an unpredictable adventure for the vine, where the elements, sometimes gentle, sometimes cruel, seemed to want to challenge the patience and know-how of the winemaker. Spring, initially generous in rain, nourished the earth to excess, and as summer set in, the capricious sky alternated between burning heat and unexpected coolness. The vine, courageous but vulnerable, suffered trials, especially under the onslaught of the burning sun of July and August, which slowed down its natural course. And then, one day in July, hail struck, leaving scars on the leaves and grape clusters, but fortunately for the winemaker, the fine weather in August allowed some of the wounds to heal.
Since the beginning of May, the winemaker, like an attentive guardian, had been watching. Faced with the threats of mildew and powdery mildew, he protected his treasure with constant care, preserving what could be preserved. Thus, after a timid start in April, the vine, in fits and starts, took off. The flowering, in June, rapid and full of promise, gave hope for a generous harvest. The maturity of the grapes, although disparate, carried with it the promise of wines of rare quality, the fruit of this complicity between nature and man.
The harvest, generous, turned out to be similar to that of the previous year, even surpassing the expectations of recent decades. The sugar, in each grain, recalled the best years, close to 2019 for some grape varieties, evoking 2014 for others.
Thus, the 2023 vintage promises to be a subtle melody. The reds are dense while retaining a subtle elegance. They charm with their bouquets combining ripe fruits and delicate spices. The perfect balance between the silky softness of the tannins and a well-controlled acidity gives them a distinguished personality, both complex and refined.