Grain Ermitage Biodynamic Marsanne Chappaz 2021

Grain Ermitage President Troillet Marie-Therese Chappaz, Biodynamic Marsanne, full bodied, oak aged, layered, expressive, and delicious. 95% Marsanne (called Ermitage in the region) from vines planted in the 1920s taken from cuttings from the Rhone Valley in France. The history of the domaine created the inspiration for this wine. Maurice Troillet, politician and Great Uncle to Marie Therese, brought barrels of wine from the Rhone to bottle and drink at his home in Fully. He loved the wine so much that he decided to plant the Marsanne vines that have endured to this day. The vines are on granitic soils and produce wines of immense complexity and depth with good acidity and structure. The Biodynamic Marsanne takes well to new oak barrels in which they are aged for a year to eighteen months. The nose is expressive with aromas of prune, mace and truffle. The palate is marked by its generosity and concentration matched by freshness and minerality. According to Marie-Therese, a glass of Grain Ermitage with a slice of good Gruyere is wine and gastronomy in perfect harmony.

A note on the Claives vineyard where these grapes are grown…

Les Claives is one of the most difficult hills to cultivate in Valais, and perhaps even the world. Roadless, it ranges from 450 to 650 meters in altitude. Due to its steep slope, loamy deposits accumulate in the flatter parts while elsewhere, the soil is rocky and dry. The Claives appellation, with its successive terraces, is emblematic of this local hillside.

Domaine Marie Therese Chappaz, lies on the south facing slopes of the beautiful Valais region of Switzerland just above the town of Fully.

Wine production in the region dates back to the 2nd century BC and the vines carpet the lower slopes of the high mountains, up to over 1000 metres.  The climate is hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter.  There are over 300 days of sunshine per year. The mountains provide a diverse terroir including loess, granite, alluvial, clay and limestone. There are a multitude of grapes from the well known Gamay and Pinot Noir to lesser known Cornalin and Petite Arvine. These conditions and such diversity make for a wide range of wine styles and exciting flavours.

Marie Therese Chappaz took over her family estate when it was just 1.5 hectares back in the mid 80s.  She has worked using biodynamic farming for over 20 years. She has built a reputation for elegant yet full bodied wines with depth and style which age very well. Her passion and commitment to quality have earned her international recognition.  In 2016, her estate was listed in the Gault Millau guide as one of the best 100 wineries in the world.

Today she farms 11 hectares of vines on the slopes above her house in Fully and in nearby villages, Charrat, Leytron and Chamoson.  Five of the vineyards are only reachable on foot or in a small cable car. Now on her 34th vintage, Marie Therese Chappaz continues to produce over twenty different Cuvee of world class wine.  Her wines are highly sort after all over Switzerland and around the world.