Wine of France / Saboie & Bugey / Savoie / Arbin / Domaine Fabien Trosset

Domaine Fabien Trosset, Arbin

Arbin
Fabien Trosset and his partner Chloé took over the estate of Jean-Louis Trosset (first cousin of our other Arbin producer Louis and Joseph Trosset) in 2011. They slowly began expanding the domaine until it reached its current size of 16 hectares, with 13 of these planted to red and 3 to white. These vines have an average age of 35 years, and being in the Arbin cru, the domaine’s only red grape is naturally Mondeuse. For whites, they have planted Altesse and Roussanne. The vineyard is worked using lutte raisonée, and soils are aerated but not plowed by machine. Treatments and sprays are used only when absolutely necessary, and the harvest is done entirely manually.

The work in the winery is based on a respect for tradition, updated using modern capabilities. The domaine produces about 70,000 bottles a year across all their wines. Though the domaine makes some delicious white wines, we have chosen to focus on and only bring in what we feel is their specialty, red wines from Mondeuse.

Domaine Fabien Trosset Arbin Mondeuse “Les Eboulis”
Deep ruby color. Blackberry with a bit of red fruit peeking through, along with a touch of pepper. A hint of herbs (mountain herbs, as in Chartreuse) come through on the rich, full-bodied palate. The lightly tannic finish is also long.

Domaine Fabien Trosset Arbin Mondeuse “Avalanche”
In around 1900 an avalanche fell upon the town of Arbin, and this cuvee takes its name from that event. Made from 100% Mondeuse from 50-year old vines, the yield here is 45 hl/ha and soils contain a bit more limestone than the previous cuvée. Harvest is by hand with sorting both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The grapes are not de-stemmed. Fermentation takes place over 8 days and the wine is aged in stainless-steel tanks for 8 to 12 months. From this wine’s intense violet color comes notes of black fruit and violet, finishing with fine tannins.  This wine is a bit sturdier than its predecessor and makes a good pair for a thick steak or venison stew.​

Domaine Fabien Trosset Arbin Mondeuse “1952”
From the domaine’s oldest vines (90 years old and planted in 1952—hence the name) comes this, their top cuvee. It is the only one of their wines to spend time in oak – 12 months in demi-muids – and it has incredible ageability. Deep, dark, alluring, and unique, this is a wine that deserves a spot on your special occasion table.

Savoie, Arbin - Photo Courtesy of Casey Doolin