In the alpine meadows of Bugey in the Savoie, this husband and wife tend their six-hectares of high altitude vineyards biodynamically. Far from the madding crowd, Les Cortis is just below the Jura, about an hour’s drive south from Geneva. This region is bucolic and ancient, boasting very little cell service and very abundant landscapes. The Savoie is also one of the last remaining bastions for passionate 1st generation French winemakers to get their start if they don’t come from money or didn’t inherit their vineyards.

It only helps that the Savoie, with its mountainous altitudes, is a region that calls for similar farming to the Chablis domaines where Isabel and Jeremy trained under natural wine legends like De Moor and Duplessis.

It is an understatement to say these wines speak to their place. For a region famous for it’s ski slopes, the whites hit like the herbaceous mountain air through your teeth as you carve the slopes and the reds comfort like the rustic chalet environs, swiss pine logs crackling on the hearth. The wines are clearly made in the vineyards and harbour that invigorating freshness and sublime mountain timelessness. It’s a yearly testament to Isabel and Jeremy’s dedication and talent that they can derive such artful and delicious wines from such extreme soils and climatic conditions without recourse to chemicals in the vineyard or non-traditional techniques in the cellar.

With such a small domaine, our allocation each year is never large, apologies! Stock up on what you can while you can!

2020 ‘Astrome’

85% Chardonnay 15% Altesse

A juicy alpine white that teems with minerality, giving notes of peach, flowers, and apple sauce — delicious, clean, and so refreshing. It's soaring acidity is complimented by a hint of residual sweetness to produce a truly gorgeous representation of these mountainous vineyards.

2020 ‘Mérune’

60% Chardonnay 40% Altesse

A newcomer to the Les Cortis line, this is a field blend of Chardonnay and Altesse (aka Roussette). Altesse is an indigenous varietal in Savoie. Bright and zippy but with substance. Chardonnay brings out body and roundedness, while Altesse brings out the minerality. This unique white has all the charm of vines grown on cool alpine meadows. Both varietals are pressed together and élevage is in neutral vats for about ten months prior to bottling. Isabelle is an artist and all the labels are made from her paintings.

2020 ‘Gastine’

Field blend of Gamay, Chardonnay, Corbeau, Mondeuse, Altesse, Pinot Noir, Chasselas

Jérémy and Isabelle love a field blend and it has a long history in the region. There used to be many vineyards that were planted with different varietals in the same parcel in Savoie. This parcel is a testament to that! Hand harvested all at once and macerated all together. A heritage wine, truly beautiful.

2020 “Neümite”

85% Gamay 10% Altesse 5% Mondeuse

Neümite is a Gamay with a little bit of Altesse & Mondeuse. Alpine style Bojo. Delicious lightly chilled with a drink or with a chicken. This wine is to Beaujolais as the Jura is to Burgundy, an alternate universe of Gamay charm.

2018 ‘Prémices’

75% Altesse 25% Chardonnay

An intensely flavoured pét-nat from the Savoie’s darling Altesse. Fermentation is started, then paused by chilling, then bottled (unfined and unfiltered) where it finishes fermentation while maintaining a beautiful degree of residual sugar. The Alpine climate guarantees the dazzling acidity that balances this sweetness perfectly, and at the lower 8% ABV, the Prémices drinks so fresh and fun and perfect for brunch and pastries! Find red apple, hay, peach flesh, ginger, and something like bright alpine air and melting snow with a hint of minty mentholated beauty that lingers in the mountain air.