Fumin 'Esprit Follet' La Crotta di Vegneron 2020

"Esprit Follet" from La Crotta di Vegneron is an expression of a late-ripening grape variety, an alpine terroir and a classic yet contemporary winemaking style: after all, the label speaks of mountain sprites and goblins, fairy fires and fantastic nature.

"Esprit Follet" is the interpretation, by the La Crotta winery in Vegneron, of one of the iconic black grapes of the Aosta Valley. Fumin is grown in the different plots that make up the house vineyard within the territory of several municipalities: Nus, Fenis, Chambave, Verrayes, Saint-Denis and Chatillon, which line up about twenty kilometres in the middle valley. The vines are rooted on sandy, light soils derived from a moraine origin attributable to the retreat of glaciers in remote times and extend at altitudes between 450 and 550 meters above sea level. The pedoclimatic environment is definable as extreme, drawn on slopes varying between 20 and 35 percent and oriented toward the southeast and southwest. Between the rows, dense with up to 7,000 vines per hectare, most of the work is done by hand, and the harvest usually proceeds in the third decade of October, with yields of around 75 quintals per hectare. After pressing, the grapes are sent to steel tanks where alcoholic fermentation is initiated at a controlled temperature of between 28 and 30 °C, which continues for about 20 days and is interspersed with numerous pumping over. Ageing proceeds for a period of 12 months in wooden barrels of various sizes and different essences, followed finally by 5 months of rest in the bottle.

"Esprit Follet" from La Crotta di Vegneron offers a deep ruby colour with deep purple hues. The aromas exhale fine and quite intense, with a variegated fruity impact on notes of black cherry and ripe red pulp, then ranging towards spicy nuances of vanilla and white pepper, with a liquorice finish. The sip is comfortable, warm and soft on the palate but balanced by a vertical edge carried by the firm minerality and elegant tannic texture, with a dry and persistent finish. Full-bodied Fumin for aged cheeses and grilled meat dishes.