France | Loire | Domaine Les Pieres Ecrites | Montlouis-sur-Loire Brut Nature Les Pierres En Bulles Méthode Traditionnelle

Montlouis-sur-Loire Brut Nature Les Pierres En Bulles Méthode Traditionnelle

Varietal
Chenin Blanc

Notes

VINEYARD: The 5ha Petits Boulay parcel located in St Martin Le Beau. The vines average 35 years old and are planted on sandy loess and clay soils. Grass is planted in every second row and the topsoil in the others is tilled so as to check the development of surface roots. No chemicals are used. The Rassins do all vineyard work by hand (debudding, leaf stripping) and are in the process of adapting their pruning methods to put less stress on the vines by letting the sap flow more evenly (an important factor due to the ongoing problem of vine mortality.) Yields are kept to a low 30 hl/ha.

VINIFICATION: Grapes are hand-picked when they have attained full maturity and a degree of 12.5%. The grapes are placed in 20KG plastic crates. The fruit is quickly pressed and the juice is clarified off its gross lees overnight. Rassin uses only the juice obtained from the middle of the pressing, because it is the purest and richest. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks spontaneously, with the native yeasts. When the residual sugar level reaches 20 grams per liter, Rassin stops the fermentation by racking and cooling the must. The young wine is then bottled with added yeast but no sugar of any kind for the second fermentation in bottle. It is aged sur latte in the domaine’s cellar for 12 months. Rassin adds no sugar at disgorgement and final bottling.