CAVE DE MONT BLANC – Blanc de Morgex et de la salle Valle d'Aosta PDO

• COUNTRY: Italy
• REGION: Aosta Valley
• GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Prié blanc franc de pied
• AGING: 8 months in steel, 1 month in bottle before sale
• AROMAS: exotic fruit, mineral notes
• ALCOHOL CONTENT: 11%

Few places are as charming as the vineyards of the Aosta Valley. Here, the definition of "heroic viticulture" takes on a whole new meaning. Cave Mont Blanc is one of the most well-known and appreciated wineries in the area. A magical place, dominated by the majestic Mont Blanc, with the warm color of slate and the pergolas of Prié Blanc, still cultivated on ungrafted rootstock, resting on the stones that climb the mountain up to over 1,200 meters. After all, Cave Mont Blanc holds the secret of Europe's highest vineyards. It does so thanks to the commitment of about 80 members who produce no more than 140,000 bottles each year.

A white wine from Prié Blanc, produced by Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et La Salle. A true celebration of the valley's indigenous grape variety. The vineyards are located around Morgex, a small town situated at an altitude ranging between 900 and 1200 meters, at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif. This area is characterized by extreme climatic conditions. The vines grow on rocky and sandy soils, in an alpine environment, with large temperature fluctuations between day and night, favoring a slow maturation of the grapes, enhancing freshness, acidity, and finesse. Thanks to its isolated position and the absence of phylloxera, Prié Blanc is cultivated on ungrafted rootstock, one of the few grape varieties in Europe not grafted onto American roots. This gives the wines produced a purity and identity that are fully reflected in the glass.

Winery curiosity: Since 2003, Cave Mont Blanc, together with the Courmayeur Alpine Guides Society, have met to vinify Prié Blanc above 2000 meters with high-altitude sparkling wine production, and since 2015, thanks to the collaboration of Sky Way Mont Blanc, a real cellar has been created at the 2173 meters of Pavillon du Mont Fréty, where every year particular conditions of altitude, atmospheric pressure, and temperature give life to the Cuvée des Guides, a classic method sparkling wine with unique and rare characteristics.

Tasting notes: Light color, typical for the grape variety, with floral and fruity aromas on the nose, with hints of exotic fruits adding an intriguing touch to the wine's aromatic complexity. On the palate, it is fresh and savory, with a pleasant citrus note that emphasizes its vibrancy. The acidity is brilliant and the minerality is pleasant.