Château de la Mar - Roussette de Savoie Marestel La Chapelle 2018

In the Jongieux region, the Château de la Mar stands out against the undulating hillsides. It is a former 13th-century fortified house that once belonged to the Count of Mareste, after whom the prized Marestel wine is named. In 2009, the property was taken over by Jean-Paul Richard, a businessman and entrepreneur, who revived the vineyard’s operations; since 2013, he has added a guesthouse with five guest rooms. This specialist in Roussette (of the 6.5 hectares of vineyards, 5 are planted with Marestel grapes) produces several gourmet single-vineyard cuvées that offer a crescendo of richness on the palate, driven by rich ripeness and a generous profile. Special mention goes to the new Pinot Noir cuvée—the pleasant surprise of the year!

In 2009, Jean-Paul Richard purchased this splendid 13th-century building—which was falling into ruin at the foot of the Marestel hillside—and renovated it through 2013. It was once owned by Count Humbert de Mareste, a famous crusader who brought back the first Altesse grapevines from Cyprus. He cultivates his 7-hectare vineyard using biodynamic methods (uncertified) and entrusts the winemaking to Olivier Turlais, a renowned oenologist in the region.