PRODUCER: | Sebastien Riffault |
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ORIGIN: | Loire, France |
TYPE: | White |
GRAPE: | Sauvignon Blanc |
FARMING: | Biodynamic |
PRODUCTION: | Vegan, Wild Yeast, Modest Sulfites |
STYLE: | Dry, Light Bodied, Young and Fruity, Bottle Aged, Complex, Mineral, Intense, Fresh, Mouth Watering, Crisp, Citrus Fruit |
STORY: | This is Sancerre with a distinct difference to probably all others on the market. It is made with fully ripe grapes and even grapes so ripe that they are affected by a condition called noble rot which creates concentration, complexity and strikingly delicious wine. This may sound maverick and it is certainly not how things are normally done in the prestigious region today. This was however common practice in the region traditionally. Many mainstream Sancerre producers will in fact harvest when grapes are under ripe to capture green aromatic qualities. This practice has come about because there is a global trend towards lean, green Sauvignon with high acidity. The question is is this the best way to interpret the grapes from this exceptional region? Sébastian Riffault has made waves with his controversial methods but his wines have gradually grown in popularity and critical acclaim. This is his entry level wine which only contains a small amount of grapes that have been exposed to noble rot. It is therefore recognisable to lovers of Sancerre and a good introduction to the counter-culture world of Riffault. |