Not a rosewine, Prëmetta from Grosjean

One unusual grape from Valle D'Aoste is Prëmetta. Because of the large grapes and the lack of pigmentation in the skins the Prëmetta grapes gives a lightly red coloured wine. Some mistake it for a rosewine because of this. Producer Grosjean makes a wine from Prëmetta and I have tried the 2015 vintage. The ABV is 12,5. The colour is very light red going up almost into pink territory. In the nose I get light red fruits. In the taste there are strawberries and red currants with some acidity and some light lingering tannins. A wellbalanced and very good wine  from this rare grape Prëmetta. I think that this wine should be drank young but it would be interesting to try a well aged Prëmetta.

Two red wines from Alba and Aosta

Let us go and start with A. With wines from Alba and Aosta. First up is a Barbera D'Alba from producer Camerano who I visited in 2017. It is made of 100% Barbera grapes and the ABV is 14%. the vintage is 2013. This wine has soft tannins with red and black currants and hints of cherries. A good Barbera which is quite easy drinking.

Next wine is from Valle D'Aosta next to the border of France. It is from producer Grosjean and when I was in Aosta earlier on this year I tasted several of their wines but not this red wine made of the grape Cornalin. It is called Cornalin Vigne Rovettaz 2014 with an ABV of 13%. Not a complex one but in the taste I get raspberry, some acidity followed by cherries. Some tannins later on followed by black currants. I like the Grosjeans wine Fumin better but this is a good red wine also. Good quality by Grosjean.

White wine of Valle d'Aosta

I had the chance to travel to Valle d'Aosta in the northwester corner to try some of their wine and also to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains.

For the white wines of Valle d'Aosta I mostly focused on the grape Petit Arvine. This grape was introduced into Valle d'Aosta in the seventies by the Institut Agricole of Valle d'Aosta.
First up the producer Chateau Feuillet and their vintage 2017. I find this wine to be dry and mineralic with fresh green apples. Absolutely lovely taste.

Next is a Petit Arvine wine from Grosjean, it is called Petit Arvine Vigne Rovettaz of vintage 2016 and ABV 13,5%. Thi swine is produced from grapes growing at 550m at the Rovettaz vineyard. It is very fresh with minerals, apples and some grapefruit. Yet another lovely wine.

The we have the producer Les Cretes which I have visited earlier and tasted several of their wines. This time their Petit Arvine wine is from 2013. Here I find peaches and minerals with some acidity. Losing some freshness due to age but gaining some complexity instead. The Petit Arvine grape showing their ageing potential.

These Petit Arvine wines are defintaly something to look for if you can find them. Since Valle d'Aosta has a small wine production.