Cornalin, “Vigne Rovettaz”, Vallée d’Aoste

First produced by the Grosjean family in the 2005 vintage, this local grape variety is not to be confused with the Cornalin of the Valais, where this cultivar is known as Humagne Rouge ... which, to further complicate matters, is not the Humagne of the Vallée d’Aoste! From a half-hectare of vines in the south-facing, steeply sloped Rovettaz vineyard in the village of Quart, with sandy glacial moraines soils. The grapes are destemmed and ferment spontaneously in 42-hl tronconic wood vats for two weeks, then raised for 8 months in foudres. The wine is subtly herbaceous with dominant notes of red cherry fruit; full bodied and lively, the Cornalin from Grosjean has the potential to be a serious, long-lived wine.