Danilo thomain

Valle D’Aosta - Enfer D’Arvier

Enfer D'Arvier
“‘The Hell of Arvier’ expresses itself in a palate tug-of-war between rapier-like acidity and thick, luscious fruit that vibrates with energy—and as a recently consumed 2008 attested, it can age beautifully.”
— Rosenthal Wine Merchants

Enfer d’Arvier - the Hell of Arvier - is a miniscule appellation of just 7 hectares shared between Danilo Thomain (1 ha in production, 1 ha recently reclaimed and planted) and the local Cooperative (5 ha). It is a brutally steep, unforgiving amphitheatre of rocky terraces rising from the Dora Baltea river at 680m to an elevation of 800m. Danilo’s sections are planted almost solely to Petit Rouge, some plants reaching 95 years old. Grapes are hand harvested and transported to Danilo’s house where the wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation and ageing in stainless steel deep in his cold rock cellar. Production is a few hundred cases. The wine is fascinating - simultaneously alpine fresh and lusciously fruited, pouring a deep black-red. It is utterly singular in the world of Italian wine and we are extremely proud to be representing the Thomain family in Australia.

THE WINES

Danilo Thomain Enfer d’Arvier DOC

Whispers of Pinot Noir and Gamay are interwoven with the darkly elegant Petit Rouge grape (indigenous to Valle d'Aosta it makes up 90% of the Enfer d'Arvier DOC - a 7 hectare, south facing terraced rock wall between 680-800 metres). Medium weight and cooly fruit driven the wine spontaneously ferments in Danilo's freezing cold mountain cellar and comes to life in stainless steel. Utterly singular in the world of Italian wine. On the ascent towards Mont Blanc through Valle d'Aosta there is one seriously imposing 7 hectare DOC that delivers this extremely rare wine. The 'Hell of Arvier' is a series of vertical rocky terraces from 600-880 metres almost entirely planted to Petit Rouge. Danilo Thomain is one producer, the local (high quality) coop the other.

“Like many of its ‘mountain red’ contemporaries from France, Switzerland, and elsewhere in northern-most Italy, this 2018 has this magical combination of ethereal finesse and serious staying power. It’s a meadow blooming with wildflowers, a basket full of mountain berries, a shard of rock—and there is really nothing else like it. The perfume, the energy, and the lush fruit of this wine will mesmerize you... In the glass, it’s a bright garnet red moving to pink at the rim, with aromas of red and purple flowers, woodland berries, black pepper, wild herbs, and crushed stones. It is medium-bodied, with some nicely concentrated black cherry/cranberry fruit lifted by racy acidity and followed by a dusting of herbs and spices on the finish.” - Sommselect (2018 vintage)

Valle D'Aosta

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