The water of the French Alps | eau de source de montagne
In Megève there is a nature reserve that has been known to the elders for generations and where several springs rise, the Domaine de La Sasse.
The history:
The extreme purity of the water at the Mont Blanc massif has always been known to the local population and 200 years ago the then French/Italian inhabitants called the place "El Sasso", which means "the stone".
The Domaine de la Sasse is the last completely naturally preserved area in Megève, the famous Rothschild ski resort.
Passed down from generation to generation, the Domaine de la Sasse now belongs to Dominique Méridol, whose aim is to protect this vast wild space. For more than a quarter of a century, he has preserved his sanctuary from any human activity, following the motto of his ancestor: "Preserve our heritage and take care of it".
When Dominique's grandfather fell seriously ill in 1990, he asked for water from his mountain. This was the beginning of the adventure of the unique water La Sasse. The favorite mountain spring of his ancestors was "La Taverne" because of its reliable and constant flow. After a long journey through natural filtration in the alpine rock, this low-sodium mountain spring water shows a remarkable balance that is clearly noticeable when tasted.
The source:
The artesian spring rises from the slate rock of the two and a half thousand meter high Mont Joly at 1740 meters, making it the highest spring in Europe. The water springs from the mountain without any mechanical assistance and is bottled without any further processing as the mountain provides it. Due to the geographical location, bottling can only take place during the summer months, which is also one of the reasons for this special rarity. An old, now self-sufficient farm has been converted into a climate-neutral bottling plant for this purpose.
The water from La Sasse is only produced for a few months of the year when the snow cover subsides and the only road to the Domaine de la Sasse becomes passable, but the spring itself is isolated from all weather conditions.
The water:
The artesian mountain spring water is low in sodium and is extremely delicate with a palate-flattering alpine finish. It is very soft and smooth at first sip. Contrary to its name, it is hardly stony, rarely creamy with an unobtrusive neutrality and a pleasant drinking texture. Basically, it tastes much calmer and quieter than its TDS of just under 200 would suggest. Clearly one of the most delicious Alpine waters we have tasted.
Top level of balance. Very good aftertaste with a slight sweetness and light, pleasant dryness. It is a seasonal melt water that can surprise with the variety of delicate flavor profiles of Mother Nature. (Description: Water sommeliers Pat Eckert and Milin Patel)
The design:
As an aesthete, Dominique dreamed of a bottle that was as extraordinary as the water itself. The frosted glass bottle was then shaped by his friend and sculptor Pierre Margara.
The vertical lines symbolize the mountain, the spirit of water, the waterfalls. His imagination gave rise to a refined, sensual, moving form that is so beautiful to look at that it is surprisingly soft to the touch.
Sustainability:
La Sasse has been bottled since 2017. Like the bottling plant, the surrounding nature reserve is family-owned and there are no dependencies.
The spring is protected, as is the entire area, and bottling takes place under the strictest conditions.
La Sasse with handmade wooden box
The water of the French Alps in this special limited edition - we have just 20 pieces for the European market and this year.
La Sasse in a beautifully handcrafted wooden box with engraved logo, genuine leather cord and stone closure. Incredibly beautiful gift packaging.
1 glass bottle 740ml naturelle
Further information can be found on Michael Mascha's page at finewaters.com
