Wine by Region / Savoie & Bugey / Savoie / Apremont / Cru Apremont

Le Cellier du Palais - Apremont

Apremont, Savoie
The property surrounding Le Cellier du Palais has been in the Bernard family since 1700, though bottling at the domaine started a “mere” 2 generations ago. René Bernard took over for his father in 1974, and his daughter, Béatrice, has since taken over the vinification. Their small vineyard in the cru of Apremont is scattered over just 7 hectares. Some of these have a subsoil very rich in chalk, others with decomposed glacial deposits. There the Bernards have 3 grape varieties planted: Jacquère, Altesse and Chardonnay (believe it or not, the Chardonnay grape became widely planted in the Savoie during the 1960s, although not much of it remains there).

---

Béatrice works her vines according to the practices of lutte raisonée, keeping treatments to the absolute minimum while organically working the soil to promote healthy support for the vines. Some leaf plucking and green harvesting help to maximize the concentration of the remaining grapes. The harvest is done by hand by a small team of workers. A gentle pressing is followed by a cold fermentation, in an effort to guard the maximum aromas of the grapes. Afterwards the wine stays sur lie for between 4 and 10 months, depending on the cuvée. The wines do not undergo malolactic fermentation, so that they retain their bright, refreshing acidity.

Le Cellier du Palais, the name of the winery, comes not only from the name of its location (called Le Palais) but also from a play-on-words on what we taste wine with, the palate (palais in French). Production at the domaine averages 45,000 bottles (3,750 cases) a year.

Le Cellier du Palais Apremont Classique 
The Apremont cuvée sold in the United States is made with pure Jacquère, hand-harvested and gently pressed before its cold fermentation. It is all stainless steel-aged, on its lees for part of the time.
Clean, citrus fruit notes along with soft mineral notes and thirst-quenching acidity. This wine makes for a light and crisp aperitif. Excellent at the table with trout, perch, smoked salmon, or mountain cheeses like tomme and raclette.

Le Cellier du Palais Apremont Vielles Vignes 
100% Jacquère from vines with an average age of 80 years, hand-harvested and gently pressed before its cold fermentation. It is all stainless steel-aged, sur lie for 4-6 months. Aromas of white flowers and peach pit are followed by flavors of mango, yellow peach and apricot, and a pleasantly round and long finish.

Béatrice Bernard