Amigne

I tried this varietal Amigne wine at last year's Wine and Dine Festival. An ancient grape of the Valais, thought by some to have been brought there by the Romans, it is planted mainly in Vetroz. Viitis aminea which was mentioned in the third volume of De Re Rustica by Columella, was thought to refer to this grape. Amigne produces rich, full bodied wines, right through the spectrum of sweetness from dry tio sweet (dried grape wines known as fletri). Citrus, almond or apricot notes are evident on the nose and the wines show good acidity and a touch of tannin in the finish. DNA studies show that Amigne is related to Petit Meslier. AS for the above wine, it was a pale straw, with a crisp slightly fruity nose. The palate was off-dry with some fruity notes with a good acid backbone for support.