The Brighter Cider of Life
Cider 2021 from Ardeche.
The base of this cider is 100% juice of apples, the variety Red Winter. We made a quick direct press in October. This first part of the fermentation took place in fiber tanks in our little cellar in Valvignères. But the cider was fermenting very fast and already shortly after it was ready to be bottled and left to finish the fermentation in bottles in matter to create bubbles. It fermented in bottles close to six months until it was to be disgorged in April 2022. We took out and away the lees and sediments from the fermentation, but instead of topping up with the same cider, we topped up with a 2021 wine of Viognier. The Viognier improves the expression of the acidity, helps to balance the flavors of the apples, make the cider less cider-like and more vinous. We’re very happy for this decision, that gives our cider a brighter, fresher and drier expression than what you normally find in a French cider.
I hope everyday
Rosé / Petulant Naturel 2021 from Ardéche.
Assemblage of Syrah (45%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), and a little bit of Grenache Noir (5%) All directly pressed, followed by fermentation in fiber tank. Shortly after the wine was bottled and left to finish the fermentation in bottles and to create bottles. It was disgorged during December 2021.
C’était le premier jour des vacances d’été. J’avais seize ans
Pétillant Naturel Blanc 2021 from Ardéche.
A blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and the very first juice from a direct press of Grenache Noir, all co-fermented- first in a fiber cuve, and very fast after the wine was bottled, left to finish the fermentation for a year. We wanted to keep this white sparkling wine on the yeast in bottle for a year, to be able to bring the bitter notes more in place and at the same time have smaller and more delicate bobbles. It means that this pétillant natural has a character more like a BdB sparkling wine, and a less pronounced fruit and sweetness compared to what pét.nat normally represents. We made dégorgement in the end of September 2022.
I guess this is what I would have said
Blanc 2021 from Ardéche.
The very end of a 10-day long press, stating with Sauvignon, then Chardonnay and finally the Viognier, that represents 80% of this wine. The grapes were harvested faster than we could press them, so we decided simply to add more and new grapes to the pressoir every third/fourth day. The Sauvignon and the first part of the Chardonnay went into another cuvée. The last part of the Chardonnay and all Viognier is what this wine is built of. We aged it in old barrels, that normally have been used for red wine. This and the way we pressed gives the wine at bitter tannic structure, not in a macerated or “orange wine” style. It’s very light and delicate and are expressed more as salty notes than notes of maceration and tannins.