Millimeter work
OPEN-HEARTED
I can hardly stay away from the barrels and can't wait to add this new winemaker to our portfolio. We are guaranteed to find some gems. After tasting his Chasselas, I will admire him even more. The essence of a committed, open-hearted and kind person with an eye for the smallest detail is powerful in all his wines, not only in the Chasselas, which is generally known for its high yields and uninteresting wines, but also in the Altesse, Gamay and Pinot Noir. Damien's exciting wines will make you wonder, laugh and cry. The wines are incredibly expressive, individual and energetic, full of tension, acidity and salinity—everything I love.
SAVOIE LIBRE
Damien is a man who sets sky-high standards for himself. Still, he is also a storyteller, a teacher, a philosopher, an idealist, a bridge builder, a big brother, a friend and, almost forgotten, Olivia's faithful husband, who accepts everything that comes with life. Damien is great at kidnapping you with a pun. The name of his domain refers to freedom and means drinking freely without additives. Savoie libre stands for freedom and independence.
LUCAS & GANEVAT
Damien Bastian Goddard is an agricultural engineer with a lot of experience, even though he is only in his early 40s. He spent much of his career in the Republic of Chad in Africa to study horticulture and ecosystems. After working in gastronomy in Geneva for a few years, Damien came into contact with wine and discovered something else that interested him immensely. He decided to get back to work with nature in general and with natural wine in particular. Damien already farms 75 acres of vines of the Chasselas in Marignan for a living, but of course, can only live in a small area and goes around the corner to learn from Dominique Lucas. He also worked several years in the Jura with the famous Jean-Francois Ganevat, making the long journey from Savoie to the Jura several times a week to enrich his experience and knowledge of white natural wines. The dedication and long hours during this time have certainly paid off.
TRIBUTE
In 2019, Damien took over 3 ha of vines from retired winegrower Jean-Marie Chappuis, and his story began. It felt like coming home as Damien's grandfather, André Goddard, was a great winegrower and was part of a crucial campaign to get Savoie wines recognised under an official AOC. Damien's name on his labels (Damien Bastian Goddard) is a tribute to his grandfather. If he can also settle in the centuries-old cellars of Marsaz, he can't believe his luck, and his first vintage 2020 will become a fact. Damien owns two parcels planted in 1985 on a glacial moraine west of Sciez, in the Marignan appellation just 500 metres from the breathtaking Lake Geneva. The climate of this region is temperate continental, although the tremendous influence of the high peaks is palpable. Vines planted in the foothills of the Alps, on more or less gentle slopes with varying exposures, benefit from excellent orientation to the sun's rays and good drainage, which helps to optimise the grape's ripeness.
ALPINE SPRING WATER
While the Chasselas are present as fresh alpine spring waters, the Altesse adds subtle complexity and spice. Pinot Noir Ton Rouge du Lac has surprising depth and finesse and an impressive, unaffected, pure palate. Gamay Ton Rouge d'Elevage is a brilliant terroir-bound wine and a fine example of craftsmanship.
I already mentioned that we were struck by gems from the first moment of tasting, and the proof that all the wines were sold out within a day says it all.
