Francois Chidaine Vouvray Petillant Les Fines Bulles Brut NV

This comes from 100% estate grown Chenin Blanc, now from a range of Chidaine’s chalkier sites in Vouvray. This cuve is made methode ancestrale, and is aged on its cork much longer than the Montlouis Mthode Traditionnelle. The age of vines and yields are similar to those for his Montlouis cuve. Here, Franois arrests the primary fermentation when the wine still has between 14 and 16 g/l of residual, meaning he does not need to add sugar at all to create the secondary fermentation that will create the mousse. The secondary fermentation leaves the wine totally dry and results in a mouth watering, crunchy, stony, mineral wine with Bosc pear, ripe apple skins, and a wonderful savoury, sappy, energy and freshness. It is low pressure and therefore only gently sparkling in the true Ptillant style. Extremely vinous, it begs to be used during a meal (not to mention before and after!). Again, this is an absolute bargain and a great wine for lovers of quality grower Champagne. Based on fruit from the 2011 harvest, the wine was aged on lees for 36 months before disgorgement. In sum, a beautifully vibrant, pure, long and mineral wine. It’s also a wine first and a sparkling wine second!