The Wines…
LAHERTE FRERES BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT NATURE
100% Chardonnay
Aurélien Laherte’s current release of Blanc de Blancs non-vintage Brut Nature hails from the superb base year of 2015, with half of the blend made up of reserve wines from the previous two years. As is customary for him, he ages his vins clairs for fully six months in barrel prior to blending and bottling for aging on their fine lees. The new Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature is lovely, wafting from the glass in a mix of pear, apple, a touch of almond, chalky soil tones, bread dough and a gently smoky topnote.
Walter Scott Freedom Hill Vineyard 2017 Chardonnay
Owners Dan and Helen Dusschee planted the iconic Freedom Hill Vineyard in 1981. Their son, Dustin, has recently taken over the farming responsibility in yet another generation of sustainable stewardship and maintaining the family legacy. Freedom Hill Vineyard is tucked into the coast range on a gentle southeast slope. Protected from the Van Duzer coastal winds, this vineyard has a warmer climate than those of the neighboring Eola-Amity Hills. The soils here are a sedimentary, uplifted seabed and are thought to be among the oldest in the region. 100% Chardonnay, fermented and aged in 500 & 350-liter barrels for 12 months & finished for 3 months in stainless steel tank. 40% New Oak.
Domaine Berthaut Gerbet, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2018
In 1693, a motto was carved into a stone lintel in the Berthauts' house: Bien faire vax miev que dir, “doing right is better than talk.”
The Berthauts were first documented in Fixin in the 18th century but they have reason to believe they go back much further. Amélie, the current vintner represents the seventh known generation of Berthauts in Fixin. 100% de-stemmed Pinot Noir planted in 1970, mostly pump-overs with some punch-downs, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged in older barrels and foudres (no new oak).
Domaine Andrée - Carbone 2017 Anjou
Domaine Andrée is located in the Anjou appellation, in the Loire Valley. The small cellar was founded by Stéphane Erisée. Before creating the domain, he worked with Antoine Foucault, from Domaine du Collier. He exploits 5 hectares of vines which he cultivates in organic farming and produces wines from Cabernet Franc, Chenin, Grolleau Noir and Grolleau Gris grapes, pursuing the philosophy of minimal intervention and using the minimum of sulphites in the processes of winemaking.
The cuvée Carbone is made from Cabernet Franc, cultivated on clay soil rich in carbon and granite. The average age of the vines is 70 years. The harvest is completely destemmed and no punching down or pumping over is carried out: the aim being infusion rather than extraction. Carbone is aged in barrels, 30% of which is new for 12 months before bottling.
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