Humagne Rouge Chamoson 2022 - 75cl

Cuvée made from the Humagne Rouge grape variety, macerated for 15 days. Rare grape variety, also called Cornalin in Val d'Aosta.

This wine was made in Switzerland, naturally, without any synthetic inputs in the vineyard or in the cellar, but with the help of herbal teas, fermented extracts and compost tea to accompany the vines throughout the season.

From the purchase of grapes on a parcel that I worked all year, it is the beginning of the adventure that wants it to be in "haute-couture" trade, eventually this parcel should integrate the domain in order to be certified in organic and biodynamic.
Guillaume Bodin

The legal start of the conversion to organic and biodynamic farming will take place for this cuvée over the next few vintages, even if by 2022 it is clear that everything has been done according to these farming methods.

Altitude of the plot 540 metres - Hand harvested on 20 September 2022 - Indigenous yeasts - Matured in oak casks for 12 months - Light filtration before bottling - 979 bottles - Total SO2 less than 30 mg/L

Grape varieties

100% Humagne Rouge.

Vinification

No SO2 at harvest, 5-day cold pre-fermentation maceration, incorporation of native yeast from 15°C, one punch down per day during fermentation, pressing after 16 days of maceration.

Addition of 10 mg/L of SO2 after malolactic fermentation, then 10 mg/L at the end of maturation, light filtration 1 week before bottling, adjustment before bottling because at 25 mg/L of free SO2.

Bottled on fruit day on December 05, 2023.

Dégustation

In a style of gourmandise, this garnet red humagne presents a fine and elegant nose of violet and cherry. Its mouth has a beautiful dynamic of red fruits with a finish of cherry stones. A fruity wine that will accompany an autumn dish with chanterelles.

Storage

Can be kept for 5 to 8 years (in good temperature and humidity conditions).

Vintage 2022 in Valais

The year 2022 was characterised by exceptional weather conditions and a scorching summer. It was also characterised by a very low level of rainfall throughout the vegetation and grape ripening period. Coupled with the high temperatures, this phenomenon favoured high evaporation, greatly accentuating the water deficit in the soil and making it necessary, in certain situations, to irrigate more than usual.

These hot and dry weather conditions particularly benefited the vines and were very unfavourable to fungal diseases and other pests. After budburst in mid-April, the vines grew rapidly and continuously. Flowering began in mid-May, two weeks ahead of the ten-year average, and the harvest began at the end of August.

With 26 million kilos of red grapes and 20 million kilos of white grapes, the 2022 Valais harvest is close to that recorded in 2019 and 10% above the ten-year average. As a reminder, the very low 2021 harvest, heavily affected by frost and mildew, produced 22.7 million kilos.

The natural sugar content of the 2022 vintage is close to the ten-year average for Chasselas (81 °Oe), Sylvaner (94 °Oe), Pinot Noir (95 °Oe) and Gamay (95 °Oe).

The quality of the wines is very promising. A somewhat surprising freshness for this hot and early vintage gives them energy and vitality, balancing the greediness in a very delicate way.

The white wines have character with a beautiful aromatic exuberance. On the palate, the fruitiness is brilliant, combining floral notes and ripe fruit, while revealing a surprising freshness. The red wines are full-bodied yet subtle. They express themselves in a rich palette of black fruits and warm spices, with beautiful silky and melted tannins.