Monthoux is a named cru of the Roussette de Savoie appellation that covers a part of the Alps in far-eastern France. The Monthoux vineyard is considered as one of the premier terroirs for the production of the Altesse grape variety, along with the other named crus of Roussette de Savoie: Frangy, Monterminod and Marestel. Roussette de Savoie Monthoux wines exhibit floral, honeyed characters, and are considered to be some of the region's top white wines.
The Monthoux vineyard sits on a south-facing hillside on the western slopes of the Mont du Chat, around 10 miles (15km) north of Chambery. The Rhone river makes its way through the valley below and Lake Bourget, the largest lake entirely in France, sits on the eastern side of the mountains. The vineyards of Jongieux can be found to the north, and the Bugey appellation of the southern Jura mountains is in the west.
The key characteristic of the Monthoux cru is its steep, south-west-facing slopes, which have rapid soil drainage and excellent sunshine exposure – a vital bonus in the cool, alpine climate here. The vines' elevated position also keeps them out of the reach of low-lying frosts, and they are sheltered from other adverse weather conditions by the 3800ft (1200m) Mont de la Charvaz peak to the south-east, as well as a parallel ridge on the western side of the valley. Monthoux's location between the eastern banks of the Rhone and the lake makes for a warmer, more stable mesoclimate, with the worst effects of the continental climate moderated by the presence of the water.
The soils in Monthoux are challenging to vignerons, as they are very rocky and quite thin, sometimes requiring vines to be planted directly into the rocks. Made up largely of limestone with a layer of scree, these soils contribute to the rapid drainage in the area, and provide little in the way of nutrients. This situation, however inconvenient for workers, is well suited to viticulture as vigor is curbed, leading to smaller yields of highly-concentrated grapes. This makes for richly flavored, intense wines.
Altesse is the only grape variety permitted in the Rousette de Savoie wines (Roussette being the local name for the variety). Wines labeled as Roussette de Savoie Monthoux (along with the other three crus) are made under more stringent production conditions than basic Roussette de Savoie wines – specifically, lower maximum yield and higher minimum alcohol levels in the finished wines.
