Conrad Caloz farms a tiny collection of parcels in Switzerland’s Valais region. His village, Sierre, is hidden in the shadow of the snow capped Swiss alps. It’s an immensely challenging climate for growing grapes. Conrad’s brilliant and beautiful daughter, Sandrine, studied organic viticulture and together they are among the few local families careful and dedicated enough to work without chemicals. The tall grasses and wildflowers in their vineyards stand out - this is a truly special property. Today’s wine is 100% Humagne Rouge (aka Cornalin in Italy), from hand harvested grapes that are pressed in the basement of the family’s small house. Following fermentation, the wine is aged over a year in a 600-liter rhone-style “demi muid,” before a final year in bottle. Conrad bottles very little of the wine each vintage, of which less than 24 cases export to the US.
The 2011 Caloz Humagne Rouge “La Mourziere” has an intense and opaque garnet core which extends consistently to the rim. It’s alive and extraordinarily complex, with a dense and chewy mid palate joined by mouthwatering tannins and refreshing acidity. This vintage possesses the juiciness of young burgundy, and the brooding depth of my favorite northern Rhone reds. Aromas of mountain herbs, alpine forests and wildflowers fill the glass. Please decant for one hour and serve at 55-60 degrees in a large Burgundy stem. I recently enjoyed a bottle alongside a whole roasted chicken w/ carrots and potatoes - it was a perfect meal for this wine and I’ll admit we even opened a second bottle!
