2025 Les Cretes Mon Rouge, Valle d'Aosta

Les Crêtes is one of the benchmark estates of the tiny Valle d’Aosta, Italy’s spectacular alpine wine region tucked against the borders of France and Switzerland. The Charrère family has farmed here for generations, with Costantino Charrère establishing the modern winery in 1989 and daughters Elena and Eleonora continuing the family story. Mon Rouge is their bright, accessible mountain red, made to capture the perfume and freshness of these extraordinary high altitude vineyards rather than sheer power.

Viticulture in the Valle d’Aosta is genuinely mountainous, with steep slopes, intense sunlight, cool nights and dramatic shifts in temperature. Mon Rouge draws on a blend of red varieties suited to these conditions, creating a lighter style with crunchy fruit, fragrant spice and brisk acidity. The 2025 is very much a wine for drinking rather than contemplating for hours, and a slight chill would make it even more appealing.

Bright ruby with a translucent purple edge, the bouquet is full of wild raspberry, red cherry and cranberry, followed by violet and blood orange. White pepper, juniper and fresh thyme add a distinctly alpine savoury note. Light to medium bodied, it is juicy and energetic, with tart cherry and raspberry framed by fine tannins. Orange peel and pepper sharpen the finish, leaving the mouth fresh and ready for another sip.

Charcuterie is an obvious companion, but pork and shiitake dumplings, grilled chicken with rosemary, mushroom polenta, tuna with sesame or fontina and caramelised onion tart would be even more interesting. Our pick is the fontina tart, bringing a little piece of the Valle d’Aosta straight to the table.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2030. Serve lightly chilled if you fancy.