Favorita (Vermentino) grape variety

i Vicini Favorita White 2022

Jean-Yves Péron

Favorita, from the I Vicini merchant range, is produced by Jean-Yves Péron using organic, biodynamic, and natural methods. It is made from organic grapes purchased in Asti (Piedmont). This macerated white wine is made from 100% Favorita, a local white grape variety very similar to Vermentino.

Vinification

The grapes used for this Favorita cuvée are harvested at full maturity from young vines growing on semi-slopes. One-third of them are directly pressed and two-thirds are macerated in carbonic acid for two weeks. The wine is aged for one year in 300-liter barrels. Unfiltered, unfined, and no sulfites are added.

Tasting

This is a Vermentino that bears the hallmarks of a more continental terroir and climate than average. It has a beautiful acidic base and plenty of minerality, sapidity, and aroma, similar to certain Alsatian grape varieties: fragrant without being exotic. Pair it with fish and seafood in all their forms: oysters, shellfish, smoked salmon, etc.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron

Jean-Yves Péron skillfully embodies the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which thrives on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère Valley.

High-altitude biodynamics

Jean-Yves Péron's work adheres to the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow and steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, do not receive any synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered.

Italo-Savoyard trade

Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to purchase harvests from neighboring organic winegrowers and collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his winemaking and aging experiences.

Vin de Lies White 2019/20 Magnum

Jean Yves Peron

Vin de Lies is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine that Jean-Yves Péron makes every two vintages in his Savoyard cellars. It is based on a viticultural practice that is little known outside the profession, but which produces a highly regarded wine. It is not normally sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is therefore a treat bestowed upon us by the winemaker. And I might as well tell you that the magnum format makes it an even more monumental treat... The roundness and polish of the wine are further enhanced;

Vinification

The lees wine method consists, after racking the barrels or aging tanks, of gathering all the lees in a single tank. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, which is again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red obtained in this way is smoother, softer, and the white is less tense, rounder. To make this vintage, Jean-Yves Péron combined the lees from all his 2019 whites and some of those from 2020 (thus bringing together all his terroirs, both Savoyard and Italian). The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita (Vermentino), Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne…

Tasting

This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. “It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” We can predict this moment of grace for next winter, which is upon us as this cuvée is released. Pairings: it goes with everything. Beautiful poultry, fine fish, seafood and shellfish…

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron

Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (jacquère, altesse, mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics

Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italian-Savoyard trade

Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.