In response to the U.S. government’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and products, we will not be selling any of the American wines in our portfolio until further notice.

Les Cretes Chardonnay 2019

Producer: Les Crêtes
Region: Val d’Aosta
Appellation: Val d’Aosta
Country: Italy
Classification: DOC
Variety: Chardonnay
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Soil: Moraine, losse , sandy soil
Farming Practices: Sustainably farmed, hand worked and harvested. Guyot trained
Awards: 93-Luca Maroni; 92 Wine Align; 92 John Szabo

CELLAR PROFILE


In the mid 1700s, Bernardin Charrère moved from the Haute Savoie in Southeast France to the Aosta Valley and established Les Crêtes, a mill and farm in Aymavilles. This was in the middle of the 21 square mile Aosta Valley, in the heart of the wine region. In 1810, the family planted 2 hectares of vinifera grapes and the winery was born. The family still continues to craft wines from those vineyards to this day. Consistently recognized as the finest producer in the region, this is a boutique estate by international standards, but the largest privately-owned winery in Val d’Aosta. Working with the Italian government and other tiny vignerons in the region, Les Crêtes has been a pioneer in searching out rare, indigenous vinifera varieties — grapes like Petit Rouge, Mayolet, Prie Blanc, Premetta and Fumin, which exist nowhere else in the world — and helping protect them from extinction. This is one of the most challenging regions on earth to work for wine, with noncontiguous vineyards frequently planted on ledges on the side of steep Alpine mountains where they can find a little sandy soil. Hot summer days and extremely cool nights, coupled with a dry growing season allow for some of the longest hang times on earth. Their wines are powerful yet elegant, with trademark salty minerality – a true representation of this unique Alpine terroir.

REGION


Surrounded by the Alps, the Val d’Aosta is home to the highest elevated vineyards in all of Europe. The region is divided into three main vineyard areas: the upper valley,Valdigne; the central valley; and the lower valley. Most vineyards in the Aosta Valley occupy the steep, south-facing slopes above the Dora Baltea river, a tributary of the Po. The dramatic topography and diminutive size of the valley mean that the area available for viticulture is limited. Much of the valley floor, with its mineral-rich, well-watered soils, is simply too fertile for quality viticulture. As a result, many of the best vineyards here are on the lower slopes, and climb steadily up the slopes to top altitudes of around 1300m above sea level.

VINEYARD


The production area for Les Crêtes is in Frissonnière, in the Saint Christophe hamlet of Aosta province. The vines, which are 15 years old, are cultivated on steep slopes comprised of morainic, loose, sandy soils which are exposed to the northeast, southeast and southwest. They are at 500-750 meters above the sea level. The Chardonnay vines are extended for 2 hectares and are cultivated with the French Guyot method.

WINEMAKING


These vineyards require “heroic winemaking” efforts to harvest. Extremely steep slopes on Alpine mountainsides require hand harvesting with care. Allowed to fully ripen phenolically, the wines are cool-fermented, with a portion allowed to undergo natural malolactic fermentation to add a touch of creaminess . This Chardonnay never sees oak aging, but has some lees aging to add complexity.

TASTING NOTES


Brilliant, straw yellow hue. Ripe melon and papaya with almond milk on the nose. Lush, ripe fruit on the palate surrounded by a core of bracing acidity. Rich mineral finish with tropical fruit overtones.

VARIETIES


Chardonnay is the world’s most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted, with the most highly regarded expressions of the variety coming from Burgundy and California. Climate plays a major role in dictating which fruit flavours a Chardonnay will have. Broadly speaking, warm regions such as California tend to give more tropical styles. While many Chardonnays have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques (particularly the use of oak) rather than the variety’s intrinsic qualities. Malolactic fermentation gives distinctive buttery aromas. Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla, smoke and hints of sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. Extended lees contact while in barrel imparts biscuity, doughy flavours.

 

$68.00

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COVID19 Precautions

Buyers+Cellars Tasting Room is dedicated to keeping the Ottawa community safe by abiding by Health Canada recommendations and being as transparent about our procedures, if you have any questions about the following please feel free to contact curtis@buyersandcellars.ca 

  • We are open by appointment only to ensure we can maintain physical distancing
  • Appointments will be staggered, allowing 40 minutes between appointments to ensure sanitization
  • Our brand new kitchen is well ventilated and is cleaned and sanitized before opening, during service and when closing.
  • Our staff is equipped with proper gloves, face masks and sanitizers, and will follow social distancing rules
  • A freshly cleaned bottle of hand sanitizer will be provided for every new appointment
  • We have hand sanitizing stations at the entrance to our premises and at the entrance to our washroom facilities
  • Each group will be assigned to its own washroom 
  • There are touchless soap dispensers in all of our washrooms
  • After each seating, tables and chairs will be disinfected and washrooms will be disinfected and restocked
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  • All cutlery is disinfected after being washed in our high temperature dishwasher
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For online orders and the Experiences Boxes

  • The Tasting Room strictly follows the City of Ottawa’s COVID-19 guidelines for restaurants to ensure our establishment is safe for our guests and staff. Below are a few examples of the steps we are taking; 
  • Each wine in your Experience box has been wiped with sanitizer prior to packing and all Experience boxes are put under a powerful UV light for added security
  • Pickups will take place just inside the TTR doors.
  • Deliveries: Our delivery drivers are equipped with gloves, masks and sanitizer to provide safe delivery for each new order. They have also been trained in safe social distancing door delivery protocols.
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