Jean-Yves Péron
Conflans - Haute-Savoie
Seeing the steep valleys of the Haute-Savoie, the alps looming in the background, and feeling the mountain freshness in the air it is hard not to marvel that some intrepid vine growers are sticking it out on these slopes.
Jean-Yves, a native of Savoie, is one of these. He studied oenology in Bordeaux and spent a few years working with winemakers around France and beyond. In 2004 he returned to Savoie and started to collect small parcels planted with old vines of local varieties on the mica studded schist soils. The initial plots were scattered around the medieval village of Conflans and totalled around 1.5ha. Shortly after he added a further hectare and a half planted in the commune of Freterive, a little further down the Isere valley on limestone soils.
His 3 hectares of tiny parcels he predominantly vinifies separately – the Jacquere, Altesse, Roussanne and Mondeuse vividly expressing the details of the soil and the coolness of the alpine climate. Jean-Yves chooses to ferment in whole bunches for his white and red grapes but for varying amounts of times. The results are extraordinary.
In 2011 Jean-Yves obtained his negociant license and began working with other growers in the Savoie, notably Raphaël Marin and Adrien Dacquin. Then, in 2017 he built a new cellar just above his and Raphaël’s vines in Conflans. With this added space and his love of Italian wines Jean-Yves began a project working with two organic winemakers across the Alps: Paolo Angelino in Casale Monferrato and Giorgio Barbero in Asti. These wines he labels as "I Vicini". Whilst very different to his wines from Savoie, perhaps a little bolder and certainly boozier, they are distinctly Italian but still show a clear continuity with Jean-Yves' Savoie wines.
Wines from Jean-Yves Péron
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Mondeuse (Mica-schist, Albertville, Limestone Scree, Fréterive)
Style: Pink
Alc.: 12%
Size: 150cl bottle
Notes: A direct press of Mondeuse from two plots. The most ‘rosé-like’ iteration of this cuvée in recent years. Garnet in the glass, this is easygoing, with a lovely zip and crunchy red fruit. A good one to have in the cellar for gatherings when the sun appears!
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Altesse (Mica-schist, Albertville), Moscato (Asti, Piemonte)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 13.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A special bottle that unites fruit from both sides of the Alps. Jean-Yve has blended his Altesse with Moscato di Asti from Giorgio Barbero. Both varieties macerate together, with a month of regular pigeage. This has aged for 4(!) years in barrels. Floral and heady, this has notes of spiced roasted plums in wine; an undertone of stony minerality, and an incredibly long finish. One to share with the aficianados.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Altesse (Mica-schist, Albertville)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 10%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A most intriguing and lifted take on this classic from Jean-Yves. The fruit comes from older vines in Conflans, with 2 months of pigeage before aging in large barrels. An incredibly drinkable iteration – cooked stone fruit and caramel, waves of minerality and a moreish acidity!
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Jacquère
Style: White / Orange
Alc.: 13.5%
Size: 150cl bottle
Notes: Dark and plummy with spice, brine and furry tannin. This is smooth and drinkable, and will appeal to drinkers that have a more classical palate. Aged in large barrels before bottling. The large format is perfect for those Sunday lunches with the extended family or a group of friends!
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Jacquère (Limestone Clay)
Style: White / Orange
Alc.: 11%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Jacquère from Jean-Yves’ plots located at foot of Mt. Granier. Still a fresh and bright take on macerated Jacquère – 2023 was a warm vintage, and this has imparted a rounded quality to the wine, bringing out the variety’s fruitier qualities.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Jacquère (Limestone Clay)
Style: White / Orange
Alc.: 11%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A 2-week maceration of Jacquère, with regular pigeage for a month after. More extraction, more spice, and a tannic grip compared to Petite Robe. This new iteration has alot more fruit from the warm vintage, with subtle but rich oolong-like notes on the finish.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Jacquere, Altesse, Roussanne
Style: Orange
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc.: 11%
Notes: Fruit from 2 plots, one in Albertville on mica-schiste soils, the other in Fréterive on limestone scree. Whole bunches are macerated for up to 2 months with regular pigeage for extraction, then aged for a year in 300L barrels. A wine of texture and structure – angular tannin giving way to soft bruised fruit and a rounded finish.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Jacquere, Altesse, Roussanne
Style: Orange
Alc.: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: From 3 plots with distinctly different soil types – Alvertville (mica-schist), Fréterive (limestone-scree), and Chignin (limestone). Whole bunches macerate for 2 months with regular pigeage, then aged for 3 years in 300L barrels. Resinous aromatics, balsa wood-like tannin, and stewed stone fruit on the finish. This is a heady, complex wine that unfurls slowly.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Roussanne
Style: Orange
Alc.: 14.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Whole bunches of roussanne planted on mica-schist soils macerate for 15 days, and then aged for a year in large 12HL foudres. This vintage has alot more subtlety compared to previous vintages – paler in colour and texture, but with pine-y aromatics and tannin.
Producer:Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Jacquère, Roussanne
Style: Orange
Alc.: 13%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: The grapes here are from two different plots, one in Chignin and the other in Conflans. The grapes are macerated for about 2 weeks and then aged in a mix of different sized barrels for a year. This is less rich and dense than previous vintages, the fruit feels more lifted and there’s some brightness to balance out the maceration.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Altesse, Roussanne
Style: Orange
Alc.: 13.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: One of JYP’s biggest wines. A later than usual harvest has given this richness and depth, added to by long, gentle maceration and long ageing in barrels.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Altesse
Style: Orange
Alc.: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: From some of their older vines planted on schist in Conflans. The Altesse is macerated for 3 months with regular pigeage, and then aged a year in old barrels. This feels a touch lighter and more lifted than previous vintages, there’s more minerality and salinity and some more heady fruit.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Mondeuse
Style: Red
Alc.: 9.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: From two different plots of Mondeuse: Conflans (schist) and Fréterive (limestone). After about 2 weeks of maceration, the wine is aged in old barrels. This is considerably lighter and brighter than previous vintages; full of fresh bloody fruit and cherry-like acidity.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Mondeuse
Style: Red (Mica-schist, Albertville, Limestone scree, Fréterive)
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A standout in this vintage, and quite possibly one of the best Champ Levat we have tasted! Mondeuse from two plots on different soil types, macerated for 2 weeks before it is pressed and aged in 225L barrels. Brilliant shade of ruby, tangy red fruit, vibrant acidity and graphite-y finish. Difficult to put down.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Mondeuse
Style: Red
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Whole bunch maceration of mondeuse, aged for a year in old barrels. It is always a joy to taste each iteration of this cuvée from Jean-Yves – the 2022s are thin and bloody in its minerality, finishing with salt and plummy acidity.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Mondeuse
Style: Red
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Made from whole bunches of mondeuse growing on mica-schist in Conflans. One of Jean-Yves’ longest aged cuvées – 4 years in old barrels. This is deep and layered; wood, herbal, and medicinal notes underpinned by velvet-y tannin and a long, lingering finish. One to share, and drink slowly.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Mondeuse
Style: Red
Alc.: 10.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: From one of JYP’s older plots of Mondeuse, the grapes are macerated for 2 months with regular pigeage, and then aged 3 years in old barrels. In spite of the light ABV, this is warm and rich from the barrel ageing, with some of the classic spice and bloodiness from the Mondeuse.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Cortese (Giorgio Barbero, Asti)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 11%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Wholebunch maceration of Piemontese cortese, aged for a year in large foudres. Gentle spiced notes of white pepper, with a subtle grip and soft acidity. Lovely as an aperitif.
Producer:Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Cortese (Asti, Piemonte)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Cortese from Giorgio Barbero macerates for 2 weeks before aging in foudres. Notes of unripe pear and gooseberry – the white pepper notes unique to Cortese functions more as a secondary note in this vintage.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Favorita (Giorgio Babero, Asti)
Style: White / Orange
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A 2-week maceration of favorita, or vermentino, pressed off and aged in 300L barrels before bottling. Mango and payaya, with a subtle pithy grip. Great now, incredible to have as the weather properly warms up!
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Moscato (Giorgio Barbero, Asti)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 14%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A wonderfully balanced take on Moscato di Asti – Péron’s classic 2-weeks’ whole cluster maceration, with pigeage for 3 months after before aging in 300L barrels. Gentle floral aromatics with tropical fruit, a saline quality, and tea-like tannin on the finish.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Moscato (Giorgio Barbero, Asti)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Whole bunches of moscato from Asti macerate for 2 months, then aged a year in barrels. Heady, floral aromatics with earthy tannin, and a wonderul salinity makes this highly drinkable.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Moscato (Asti, negociant)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 14.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Here the Moscato is macerated for 3 months on the skins with regular pigeage, and then aged 1 year in old barrels. Heady with floral aromatics on the nose, this is pithy with bitter orange notes on the palate.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Barbera, Freisa, Grignolino (Paolo Angelino, Casale Monferrato)
Style: Dark Pink
Alc.: 14.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Jean-Yves’ Italian iteration of his ‘Vers la maison rouge’ which blends 2-month maceration of grignolino with direct-pressed juices of barbera and freisa. The wine is aged for a year in old barrels. This is deep and fruity on the palate which gives way to warming spice notes and an earthy finish.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Grignolino (Casale Monferrato, negociant)
Style: Red
Alc.: 14.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: The grapes here are macerated for 3 months with regular pigeage, and then spend 1 year in terracotta amphorae. This is light in body and tannin, with the pale colour of Grignolino, but with warm, spiced fruit on the palate.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Grignolino (negociant, Piemonte)
Style: Red
Alc.: 14%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: This has a distinctly ‘Italian’ nose, and while rich, deep and intense, there is a lightness on the palate that keeps you coming back for more.
Producer: Jean-Yves Péron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Dolcetto (Giorgio Barbero, Asti)
Style: Red
Alc.: 13.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A welcome return of Jean-Yves’ dolcetto! Crunchy red fruit and warming spice – this is immensely drinkable despite the tannin. The use of amphora for aging imparts bassier notes and a distinct earthiness.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Barbera (Giorgio Barbero, Asti)
Style: Red
Alc.: 13.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A 2-week whole-bunch maceration of Barbera, before it is pressed and aged in large barrels. Dark, plummy, with peppery spice, brine and tannin. Smooth and drinkable, will appeal to those that have a more classical palate.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Altesse
Style: Orange
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A lighter wine than previous years – only altesse from Albertville went into the making of Grande Journée this vintage. Whole bunches macerate for 2 months with regular pigeage, then aged for a year in barrels. This is distinctly saline and mineral, with herby and resinous aromatics and a firm tannic grip.
Producer: Jean-Yves Peron
Region: Haute-Savoie, France
Grapes: Nebbiolo (Paolo Angelino, Casale Monferrato)
Style: Red
Alc.: 14.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Jean-Yves’ first vintage where he has vinified nebbiolo. Maceration is done in his classic 2-week whole cluster method, with 3 more months of pigeage before aging in old barrels. Broad, grippy, with gentle acidity complimented by sublime and lifted red fruit notes that linger long after a sip. Stunning!