Description / Reviews
"Petite Arvine has always been the white grape variety to which we are undoubtedly most attached. Classified as semi-aromatic, it has always stood out for its explosiveness on the nose and for the great strength and tension expressed in the mouth. The key to this wine is precisely balance, particularly that between the alcoholic and acidic components. Petite Arvine is a vine of Swiss origin, imported to the Valley in the 1970s by the canons of the Great St. Bernard, then rectors of the Instituto di Agricoltura. A lover of the moraine and sandy soils of which these two valleys are composed, however, it requires large temperature ranges and long times to reach maturity. The harvest is generally at the end of September, and in the fermentation process an attempt is made to preserve and bring out to the full the flavor and freshness given precisely by this terroir." - Elio Ottin, Winemaker
"Elio Ottin is the rising star of Valle d’Aosta, the smallest of Italy’s regions located in the Alps bordering France and Switzerland. Until 2007 Elio, a passionate farmer, was selling his fruit to the local cooperative, which is common in these parts due to the small land holdings and the intense labour required to work the terraced hillsides. Petite Arvine originated in the Swiss Canton of Valais and was brought to Aosta in the mid-20th century. Displays a complex fruity/floral nose ranging from pineapple to grapefruit with mountain herbs. Made without oak, it is a distinctly Alpine white wine with loads of flavour and a steely freshness on the palate." - Trembath & Taylor, Importer
"Pungently floral yet sweetly scented, the 2019 Petite Arvine opens up with a mix of yellow flowers, custard, raw honey and pear nectar. It’s surprisingly rich, with glycerol-like textures supported by a core of brisk acids and minerals, as ripe apple, melon and hints of candied lime settle upon the senses. This holds nothing back yet maintains balance throughout, tapering off with incredible length and a reverberation of crisp salty and citrus tension." - 92 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (2019 Vintage)
