Chaudelune Vin de Glace Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle 2016/18 500ml

Chaudelune Vin de Glace Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle 500ml Valle d'Aosta Ice Wine, 100% Prie Blanc, Sweet, fresh Dessert Wine from the mountains northern Italy. These grapes grow on terraces in the shadow of Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco as they call it in Italy. The rare Prie Blanc variety only grows in the Valle d'Aosta and seems to have some relation with the Spanish wine grapes of Lairén in Andalusia and Albillo in Ribera del Duero. In these cold climes however, it makes a superb Ice Wine. The vineyards are up to 1200 metres above sea level making them some of the highest in Europe and the grapes are harvested at night when the temperature is around -10 degrees yielding completely frozen berries that are pressed in the early hours of the morning to produce a sugar rich juice to make perfect sweet, natural wine. The flavours are full of mountain freshness, mature apple and williams pears, candid lemon, notes of herbs, a delicious and moreish dessert wines for lighter blue cheeses and fruity flans or desserts made with meringue.

Vin de Morgex, also called Bianco dei Ghiacciai (glacier wine), is cultivated at an altitude of 1300 metres, at the foot of Monte Bianco (or, as the French call it, Mont Blanc – a mountain named after a fancy biro) in the heart of Valle d’Aosta. This is the highest region from which wine is produced in all of Europe. Indeed, it is not unusual for the typically bright green grapes to be covered in snow and ice at harvesting time. All harvesting takes place by hand, and the low pergola training of the vines means that harvesters must pick on their knees or lying on their backs! All in the name of good wine!