Château de Mérande: Exceptional Wines from Savoie
Daniel, André, and Yann are the owners of Château de Mérande, Domaine Genoux, in the Vins de Savoie AOC. These winemakers are committed to producing natural wines using grape varieties that are emblematic of the region and that express the unique terroirs of the Combe de Savoie.
The Genoux family, who have lived on the estate for generations
The Genoux estate is a family-run business: brothers Daniel and André took over the business from their father. In the 2000s, they expanded the property from 3 to 12 hectares. Unable to handle all the work on their own, they formed a GAEC in 2009 with a new partner: Yann Pernuit.
Today, Daniel’s son Pierre works alongside them on the estate. It appears that the fourth generation is ready to take up the family torch. It is on the limestone and clay-limestone soils composed of scree, on the slopes of Savoie at the foot of the Bauges Mountains, that the Genoux family has been cultivating vines for generations. Grown in the village of Arbin in the Combe de Savoie, the wines bear the prestigious “Cru Arbin” appellation.
Mondeuse: the estate’s signature grape variety
Mondeuse is the signature grape variety of the Arbin Cru and the Genoux estate: it is planted on 7 of the estate’s 12 hectares. Robust, it is the variety of choice for this terroir because it withstands the cold very well. “In the wine, Mondeuse expresses itself with aromas of fruit, berries, and small red fruits (blueberries, redcurrants), along with a very characteristic spicy and peppery bouquet,” explains Pierre. Tannic at first, the wines round out after a few years of aging and develop more animal-like notes. Domaine Genoux offers four major Mondeuse vintages, each with distinct profiles, including the estate’s two top-tier vintages: Latitude and La Noire.
The Genoux estate grows only local grape varieties from the Vins de Savoie appellation: Apremont, Altesse—which produces Roussette de Savoie—and Roussanne, which finds its expression here in the exclusive Chignin-Bergeron Cru. These white wines, typical of Savoie, reflect the region’s terroir and winemaking tradition.
Natural winesthat reflect their terroirs
“Caring for the land.” Wine is, above all, about working the land and the vines. For a long time, the Genoux family has sought to work naturally, avoiding chemical and synthetic products as much as possible. “We felt like we were working against common sense. We wanted to respect the land much more. We went back to the basics of being farmers, not just agricultural operators,” says Pierre. In 2009, with Yann’s arrival, the estate converted to organic farming and earned the Ecocert certification. In 2015, the winemakers decided to take it a step further by obtaining the Biodivin certification for biodynamic farming.
Every winemaker at Domaine Genoux is convinced that chemical-based viticultural practices mask the wine’s natural aromas. They aim to produce wines that express the true character of the soil and the terroir—that unique terroir of the Savoie mountains. They therefore favor gentle mechanization in the vineyards: hand plowing and animal-drawn equipment. They follow the lunar calendar, which allows them to adapt viticultural practices to the vine’s growth cycle. They limit inputs in the vineyards and cellar as much as possible and prefer herbal teas and plant decoctions. It is within this philosophy that the estate approaches its agricultural practices: through careful reflection and observation, each vintage—different from the last—teaches the winemakers something new.
Our Estate's Favorite Cuvées:
The 2016 vintage promises to be of excellent quality
The year got off to a rough start: heavy rains in the spring, a severe outbreak of downy mildew, and hail. 2016 was a very difficult year for many winemakers. The Genoux estate is facing a significant drop in production this year.
That said, the quality is definitely there! “We’re very happy,” says Pierre: the whites are supported by excellent acidity, the grapes were harvested at the right stage of ripeness, and the wines are very well-balanced.
Need a recommendation? Be sure to check out the wines from Domaine Genoux, available on Les Grappes here!
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