Maison Gilliard is among the oldest wine producers in the Swiss canton of Valais, east of Lake Geneva. Dôle is an official appellation within Valais, indicating a blend of pinot noir and gamay, with a majority of the former. Gilliard’s Dôle is 80% pinot noir and 20% gamay from terraced, high-altitude vineyards (550+ meters), fermented and aged in stainless steel. The wine is high-toned, with red fruits, delicate herby and spicy notes, and a distinctive suggestion of black tea. It has the liveliness and acidity to stand up to raclette, or an alpine cheese on its own. A fun cross-cultural pairing would be tea-smoked duck. A Burgundy stem is ideal, but any larger wine glass will do just fine.
