Alpine Beauty from Vallée d'Aosta
The 2023 Chambave Rouge from La Crotta di Vegneron is a joyful, vibrant Alpine red that delivers far more pleasure than its modest profile suggests. This is a recent arrival from our friends at Ideal Wine and Spirits, whose selections I have long considered a beacon for authenticity. Their focus on small, traditional growers has introduced me to some of the most characterful and drinkable wines we’ve encountered, and this bottling is no exception.
The wine comes from Val d'Aosta, Italy’s smallest and most dramatic wine region. Tucked into the shadow of Mont Blanc, vineyards here cling to impossibly steep slopes at high elevations. The Alpine climate preserves acidity, extends the growing season, and produces wines defined not by weight, but by energy and clarity.
The grape at the heart of this wine is Petit Rouge, Val d’Aosta’s signature variety. True to form, the 2023 is light on its feet, with low alcohol, gentle tannins, and a brightness that makes it endlessly drinkable. In the glass, it shows crunchy red cherry, wild strawberry, rose petal, and a faint whisper of mountain herbs and stone.
There’s a freshness here that makes each sip feel as inviting as the first.This is blended with a touch of Pinot Noir and Gamay, and takes a bit of backbone and richness from both to balance out the crispy, crunchy acidity. It tastes like the mountains. It tastes alive. With only fifty cases imported, this is a chance to try a unique wine. Blink and you’ll miss it.
Winery Notes
A lively, fruity red, this offers strawberry, almond, earth and graphite flavors. Well mannered tannins leave a powdery feel on the finish. 830 cases made, 50 cases imported to the USA.