These wines have been selected by our Chalet Sommelier, Xavier Rousset. Originally from St Etienne in France, Xavier spent a year at catering school in the Loire Valley to attain the Complementary Mention Sommellerie. Subsequently he worked at several top restaurants in France such as the two Michelin Star Le Laurent in Paris and the luxurious Villa Belrose in St Tropez. After deciding to practice his trade in the UK, Xavier was Chef Sommelier at Hotel du Vin from 1999 -2004. A finalist in the prestigious Ruinart UK Sommelier of the Year in 2001, Xavier went on to win the award in 2002. Now a Master Sommelier, Xavier is currently Chef Sommelier at the prestigious Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire.

House White Wines

Les Marquieres Vin de Pays 2007
This wine, originating from the South West of France, is a blend of three grape varieties: the ever-popular Sauvignon Blanc, combined with local varieties Ugni Blanc & Colombard. Fruity, light and crisp, Les Marquieres is ideal as an aperitif or delicious served with dishes such as pear and goat’s cheese salad.

Cuvee Dolmens Vin de Pays 2007
Compiling wine lists always throws up a few pleasant surprises and this wine - from the relatively unknown vineyards of the Ardeche - is definitely one of these. It is a blend of several grape varieties, including Viognier and Grenache Blanc. It is flowery, slightly spicy with a smooth texture and a round finish. Try to combine it with foods such as sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and Parma ham.

House Red wines

Les Deux Lezards AOC Coteaux du Languedoc 2005
This wine is a classic southern blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah from a producer near Montpellier. Arnaud Warnery worked with the Rothschilds in Bordeaux , Portugal and Chile, before returning to France in 1998 to set up his own estate in the Languedoc. His cosmopolitan experiences produce a wine that is without doubt ‘Made in France’, but with a clear nod towards modern New World styles: plenty of jammy, juicy fruit with soft tannins.

Domaine Albaric Merlot Vin de Pays 2006
Another wine from the south, but this time made from the popular Merlot grape, grown in cooler vineyards just to the south of Carcassonne. This is a well-balanced wine, complemented by firm tannins, a smooth texture and an almost chocolaty finish.

Grenache-Cabernet Vin de Pays des Cevennes NV – (ZERMATT ONLY)
This is an unusual blend; but it works well with the generosity of the Grenache and a backbone of Cabernet. A little rustic, no doubt, but well suited to hearty winter meals.

Gamay de Savoie – (ZERMATT ONLY)
All you expect from a decent Gamay; forward fruit, soft tannins and easy drinking. This Gamay can be drunk as an aperitif and also with grilled fish. It’s light body won’t overpower the subtle texture of the fish.
 

Our Upgrade White Wines

Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Viognier, Contour Francois Villard 2005 (€16)
Viognier is a classic grape from the northern end of the Rhone valley, very aromatic with a touch of spice. This wine is produced just outside the world-famous Condrieu appellation by the highly talented winemaker, Francois Villard, and shows as much depth as most wines from the appellation itself.

Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes, Soula, Gérard Gauby 2004 (€27)
The Gauby family are great vignerons - considered by many to be the best in the Roussillon. This biodynamic wine is made from several grape varieties, including Grenache Blanc and Chenin Blanc. Plenty of white fruit, minerality and a hint of honey are all well balanced by a high level of acidity (quite a rare achievement, given the hot local climate). The finesse and elegance of this wine proves the huge potential and quality of the region.

Sancerre, Nicolas & Pascal Reverdy 2006 (€13)
Made from the Sauvignon Blanc variety, this is a typical Sancerre: fresh, crisp and very refreshing - perfect after a long day’s skiing. It is ideal as an aperitif or great served with goat’s cheese salad or a light fish dish.

Chablis Fevre 2006 (€15)
Owned by Bouchard Pere et Fils, this domaine has improved dramatically over the past 10 years. Whilst it comes from a large producer, the range is among the most reliable in the Chablis appellation. It is no wonder that the Fevre name appears on most good restaurant wine lists!

Meursault de Montille 2005  (€38)
Both Meursault and De Montille are names from Burgundy: the first being the village the wine comes from, the second being the family that made it. Alix de Montille is the daughter of the highly respected Volnay and Pommard producer, Hubert de Montille. This wine is everything you would expect from a good Meursault: rich, creamy, but very well balanced.
Burgundy is a hard wine region to understand but the best tip I can give you is to rely on the producer. In this one you are in safe hands.

Andre et Michel Quenard Chignin-Bergeron Les Terrasses 2006  (€13)
Ask any wine-lover in the Savoie to list a few of his or her favourite regional producers and Michel Quenard’s name will inevitably crop up. Quenard strives to make wines of quality. This wine is made with the Bergeron grape (known in the Rhone Valley and elsewhere as Roussanne), the result is spicy, creamy, notes of peach, apricot...You’ll definitely change your mind about Savoie wines after having tasted this wine!

Our Upgrade Red Wines

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Roquette 2004 (€24)
Sister of the famous Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, both owned by the prominent Brunier family, this domaine offers superb value for money in an appellation that is frequently accused of complacency and overpricing. No such accusation can be levelled at this wine: it gives you everything you would expect from Chateauneuf-du-Pape - black pepper, plums, liquorice and cherries. What else could be better on a cold winter’s evening?

Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah, François Villard 2006 (€10) As with the white, Francois puts a huge amount of effort into all his red wines - and it shows. Well balanced, slightly spicy with plenty of red fruit, this wine will do well on a cold evening and is delicious when served with a Ragout of Lamb.

Côtes de Castillon, La Gasparde Prestige 2005 (€20)
A neighbour of Pomerol and Saint Emilion in the Bordeaux region, the Côtes de Castillon appellation is well worth exploring, especially when talented people are behind the wines. This wine is made by the Janoueix family, long established on Bordeaux’s right bank. Some Merlot, a bit of new oak and a skilful winemaker makes for a silky, round wine, made to please a wide range of palate!

Château Haut-Sarpe, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2004 (€40)
St Emilion is one of France’s biggest names when it comes to wine. This particular wine comes from the same family as the Gasparde and is a superb example of a St Emilion Grand Cru. It is highly recommended that once in a while you treat yourself to a glass or two, it helps performance on the slopes!

Andre et Michel Quenard Mondeuse Vieilles Vignes 2006 (€10)
This is a local wine that disproves the theory that you can’t make decent red wine in the Savoie. Michel Quenard in Chignin has crafted this wine from the local Mondeuse grape variety. Mondeuse-based wines are generally (often euphemistically) described as ‘rustic’. Quenard uses large wooden tanks to soften the variety’s character and the result is a peppery, yet fruity wine, with some tannins to give it a bit of structure. Enjoy the surprise.

Walden Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (€14)
Walden is the creation of a former sommelier, Herve Bizeul, who wanted to prove that the Roussillon can compete against the wines of the New World. The grapes are sourced from several local producers and then vinified by Herve. Intense, powerful but not over-extracted, this is a wine that needs food (like the duck breast) to show its optimum.

Bourgogne Guy Roulot 2005 (€15)
Made from Pinot Noir (probably the sexiest grape in the world) in one of the best recent vintages, this wine is light-bodied, charming and with juicy red fruit (cherries, strawberries). As mentioned before, the producer is the key to finding good wine in Burgundy and this producer based in the village of Meursault is at the top of his game.

Champagnes
Veuve Cliquot NV (€32)
Dom Perignon 1999 (€140)

Port
Taylors Late Bottle Vintage 1999 (€20)