WTN: Swiss Chasselas

Henri Badoux Aigle AOC 'les Murailles' 2005

A bright and whip-smart Chasselas. White peach, mint sprig, rosewater, lemon zest, and grapefruit, slatey mineral reminiscent of Mosel riesling, but in a more demure and and less intense way with sharp and snappy paper-cut acidity. Delicate, but in no way neutral (as many opponents of Vin de Swiss would have you believe.) Expensive? Oui, but what isn't in Switzerland? 12% alc. $40

Expensive? Oui, but what isn't in Switzerland? 12% alc. $40

That is expensive for what seems like a pleasant but not fantastic wine.

Is that $40 purchased in the US or in Switzerland?

Rahsaan, That is a US purchase. One of the few Swiss wines available here. Probably around 23 CHF, but won't have an opportunity to get back until summer (hopefully.)

I've always adored the old-fashioned label of this wine - it's a really old, old brand - as well as enjoying what's in the bottle. The lizard reflects the fact that in summer lizards (you don't think of them in the mountains but they are there) bask in the sun on the walls (murailles) that are holding up the impossibly steep rock hillside vineyards.

Not sure how to insert the image of the label, but am trying below - forgive me if it's just a web address string ... the producer website http://www.badoux.com has the image, but no price, but yes, I would also suspect around CHF20.

Bill, just a minor question: was your bottle a 750ml bottling? Because when we were at the winery, a few years ago, we learnt that 99% of Swiss wine is still bottled in 700ml bottles — as can be seen on the wine's label in Wink's post — and as such normally can't be sold within the EU, and, afaik, also not in the USA.

At the time, they told us that they had some inquiries from export markets, but were reluctant to change (even partially) to 750ml bottles.

I like to sometimes have a Swiss white with fondue or raclette, but the pricing tends towards the ridiculous, so usually go for an alpine French wine like the Boniface Apremont, at 40% of price.

Bill, just a minor question: was your bottle a 750ml bottling? Because when we were at the winery, a few years ago, we learnt that 99% of Swiss wine is still bottled in 700ml bottles — as can be seen on the wine's label in Wink's post — and as such normally can't be sold within the EU, and, afaik, also not in the USA.

At the time, they told us that they had some inquiries from export markets, but were reluctant to change (even partially) to 750ml bottles.

Michael, it is labeled 750ml on the label and 75cl is embossed on the bottle itself at the base. I'm on the lookout for this too. Chateau Grillet is labeled 750ml, while it is actually a 70cl bottle (I guess some get by.) I'm always trying to find Chateau-Chalon Vin Jaune in the states. I think the 62cl bottle might be the reason for its absence. Most other Swiss wines I've run into in Switzerland (apart from in Ticino) have been 70cl.

I've always adored the old-fashioned label of this wine - it's a really old, old brand - as well as enjoying what's in the bottle. The lizard reflects the fact that in summer lizards (you don't think of them in the mountains but they are there) bask in the sun on the walls (murailles) that are holding up the impossibly steep rock hillside vineyards.

Not sure how to insert the image of the label, but am trying below - forgive me if it's just a web address string ... the producer website http://www.badoux.com has the image, but no price, but yes, I would also suspect around CHF20.

That's the one Wink. Are you another fan of Chasselas?

Are you another fan of Chasselas?

I was sort of brought up on it - at least when we went on family holidays as I was lucky enough to go on a ski holiday in Switzerland each year - this was one of my Dad's favourite wines! I love it now and again, anyway and there are some extraordinarily concentrated examples particularly from the steep slopes above Lake Geneva, like at Dézalay.

I'm always trying to find Chateau-Chalon Vin Jaune in the states. I think the 62cl bottle might be the reason for its absence.

Indeed, Jura producers have told me that the clavelin (62cl bottle in which all Vin Jaune must be bottled including Ch-Chalon) is an illegal size for the USA, however, some sneak a small amount as 'samples' or some other ruse!

[David M. Bueker]

There's actually a little bit of Chasselas grown in North America. I've had two or three Canadian Chasselas (Chasselases??), and one from Washington State. I like it quite a lot, but my QPR substitue is usually liter bottles of Grüner Veltliner.

FWIW, the bottles I checked in my cellar--'03 Chasselas from Dubois (Dezaley) and Mathier (Sierre)--were .750. Maybe they are mislabeled, yet they seem to be normal sized bottles with not much of a punt.

These were quite good young, now I'm hoping to try them with a few years in the bottle. I'm told that they age well.

Bill, just a minor question: was your bottle a 750ml bottling? Because when we were at the winery, a few years ago, we learnt that 99% of Swiss wine is still bottled in 700ml bottles — as can be seen on the wine's label in Wink's post — and as such normally can't be sold within the EU, and, afaik, also not in the USA.

At the time, they told us that they had some inquiries from export markets, but were reluctant to change (even partially) to 750ml bottles.

Michael, it is labeled 750ml on the label and 75cl is embossed on the bottle itself at the base. I'm on the lookout for this too. Chateau Grillet is labeled 750ml, while it is actually a 70cl bottle (I guess some get by.) I'm always trying to find Chateau-Chalon Vin Jaune in the states. I think the 62cl bottle might be the reason for its absence. Most other Swiss wines I've run into in Switzerland (apart from in Ticino) have been 70cl.

Thank you, Bill. So quite apparently they changed their mind in the meantime.

17.50 CHF, roughly 15 USD.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti

17.50 CHF, roughly 15 USD.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti

Thanks David,

If I didn't love Switzerland and her wines so much, I might have a little case of sticker-shock. While most people are happy(?) to spend money on wines like Burgundy or Bordeaux despite the added cost of importer fees and jet fuel, getting them to do the same for the rather unknown Chasselas is another matter. This will continue to be an obstacle for wider appreciation of these little gems. On the other hand, wines like Bandol Rosé, which can be purchased for less than 10€ locally seem to sell out quickly in the US even at more than $30.

[Jenise]

There's actually a little bit of Chasselas grown in North America. I've had two or three Canadian Chasselas (Chasselases??), and one from Washington State. I like it quite a lot, but my QPR substitue is usually liter bottles of Grüner Veltliner.

There's a bit of it grown around here; none I've had are as good as some of the Swiss versions I had in Europe, though. Typically, they're a bit sweet and simple (like you wouldn't expect that!).