This week we continue our series of posts looking at our new discoveries by travelling to the French region of Bugey, midway between Lyon and Geneva.
From his 10 hectare estate in the foothills of the Alps, Yves Duport crafts artisan wines which are steadily putting this lesser known French region on the winemaking map.
Half of Yves’ production consists of Bugey Blanc, including a key focus on the indigenous grape variety of Altesse, known elsewhere in France as Roussette. This cuvée displays subtle mineral and fresh floral aromas, which develop through ageing to notes of honey and bees wax.
Along with Altesse, Yves also cultivates the local grape variety of Mondeuse, which along with Pinot Noir, forms the base of his red wines.
A grape which contributes deep colour and high levels of acidity, Mondeuse is one of the key components in Yves’ spectacularly elegant sparkling wine. A blend which also contains Chardonnay, Aligoté and Pinot Noir, the ‘Origin’L’ Brut is produced using the Traditional Method and displays graceful floral notes, rendering it a perfect aperitif wine. It is simply one of the best French regional sparkling wines that we have encountered in a very long time, underlining the value for money on offer if you are patient enough to trawl meticulously through some of world’s lesser known wine regions.
We are delighted to be able to introduce Yves and his wines to you all. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do!
Bugey Origin’L Reserve Brut Sparkling 2013 - £15.10
Bugey ‘En Chinvre’ Blanc, Altesse de Montagnieu 2014 - £13.50
Bugey ‘Sous le Chateau’, Terre Brune Mondeuse 2014 - £14.65
Bugey ‘Sous le Chateau’, Terre Rouge Pinot Noir 2014 - £14.65