2024 Les Cretes Mon Blanc, Valle d'Aosta

Up in Italy’s smallest and highest wine region, Valle d’Aosta, Les Crêtes works vineyards that feel closer to the mountains than the Mediterranean. Founded by the Charrère family and now run by Costantino Charrère, the estate has become the region’s benchmark, crafting wines that capture altitude, light and that unmistakable alpine freshness.

Mon Blanc is a blend built around native varieties like Prié Blanc, often grown at serious elevation where the air is thin and the growing season is short. The result is a wine that feels incredibly pure and precise, shaped more by mountain air and granite soils than anything else.

The nose is bright and lifted, green apple, citrus peel and white flowers, with a faint alpine herb note that gives it a sense of place. There’s a crystalline feel to it, almost like cold stone and fresh snow.

On the palate it’s all about energy. Crisp, linear and tightly focused, with citrus and orchard fruit carried by a sharp, refreshing line of acidity. There’s a subtle mineral edge that runs right through the wine, finishing clean, dry and quietly persistent.

This is perfect with clean, fresh food. Think mountain cheeses, trout, or simple vegetable dishes like asparagus with olive oil and lemon. It also works beautifully with light salads and anything herb driven where that freshness can shine.

Best enjoyed young while that alpine precision is at its peak.