Chardonnay 'Cuvée Bois' Les Cretes 2023

The Chardonnay “Cuvée Bois” by Les Cretes is a wine from Valle d'Aosta that originates in Haute Savoie in Aymaville, where wines of rare quality are produced. The winery has over a century of history, as its first activity dates back to 1750: great-great-grandfather Bernardin Charrère began cultivating a few hectares of land, focusing particularly on the walnut press. From generation to generation, the work has progressed, adding the processing of olives from outside the region and the cultivation of cereals such as wheat, spelt, and barley, in order to create a 360-degree and synergistic activity; it was the 1950s and Antoine Charrère was leading the winery, making important and innovative changes and enhancing indigenous grape varieties and the potential of the territory. Constantine is today the proud heir of all this history and tradition and works every day with an eye towards the future and sustainability.

The vineyards of the Chardonnay “Cuvée Bois” by Les Cretes are located in Frissonnière di Saint Christophe in the province of Aosta and the altitude is between 550 and 750 meters above sea level. The soil consists of moraine stone, sand with a south/southeast and northeast exposure, ideal for fully ripe grapes at the time of harvest. Winters are cold, snowy, and often characterized by frosts, while summers are sunny with sudden and consistent temperature changes between day and night. The harvest is manual and usually takes place in the second half of September. In the winery, whole cluster soft pressing occurs, alcoholic fermentation in French oak barriques; it ages “Sur lie” for 12 months with weekly bâtonnages. It rests in the bottle for 12 months.

The color of the Chardonnay “Cuvée Bois” by Les Cretes is an intense yellow with golden and bright reflections; on the nose, it releases aromas of ripe white-fleshed fruits such as pear and peach, hazelnut, candied cedar, and banana combined with hints of vanilla and mineral notes. On the palate, it is dense, rich and elegant with a generally pleasant harmony that invites glass