Dominique Lucas is an exception at Les Vignes de Paradis, a small vineyard along the southern shores of Lake Leman. Dominique came from a family of winemakers Burgundy, but he wanted a vineyard of his own, and the less expensive vineyards of Savoie led him to an unlikely calling. He is the leading producer in the world of quality Chasselas, a grape widely dismissed as a bulk variety, good only for large yields. Under his care the variety has much more to say. There’s depth and texture you can chew on in here, the wine is clearly defined and long lasting. Aromas of apple blossoms and apple sauce, lemon zest and vanilla-flavored whipped cream lead into flavors of lemon curd and yellow apples with a dusting of salt on the finish. A couple extra years of bottle age have given this wine time to develop a suave and creamy texture – still crisp – that reminds us of Chablis. Simple chicken dishes, French onion soup, mushroom pasty, or creamy cheeses.