Domaine Giachino Freres Giac 2023

Domaine Giachino works nine hectares in the Grésivaudan valley, at the foot of the French Alps in Savoie. Giac is a natural red blending Gamay with Etraire de la Dhuy, a rare local grape also known as Persan de Savoie that the estate has helped bring back from near extinction. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically, with the aim of clean, precise mountain fruit. Altitude is the defining factor here: cool alpine air and a long, slow ripening season hold on to acidity and keep alcohol low, at 11.5 per cent. The wine is made in a natural style, fermented with native yeasts and raised without oak, so nothing sits between the drinker and the fruit. The colour is a bright, light red. The nose leads with fresh raspberry and cherry, lifted by cracked black pepper and dried alpine herbs. The palate is light bodied and juicy, with fine tannin, bright acidity and a clean, savoury finish. This is a red to serve cool, at 13 to 15 degrees, ideally with a slight chill. It works with charcuterie, roast chicken, grilled sausages and green salads.