2023 Côteaux du Layon Vieilles Vignes
Certified organic Coteaux du Layon Saint Lambert.
The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is an exceptional Coteaux du Layon Villages. The vineyard is at Saint Lambert du Lattay, on the estate's finest schists, whose microclimate favours noble rot. A quintessential wine from incredibly low yields, this sweet white wine, sorted by hand in autumn, will win you over with its subtle balance.
- Sweet Coteaux du Layon Chenin Blanc from the estate's finest Brioverian schists.
- Picked in several passes at 80% noble rot, then fermented and aged on fine lees in tank.
- Peach, apricot and candied fruit, fresh and long; 120 g/L residual sugar.
- Grape
- Chenin
- Alc
- 12%
- Residual sugar
- 120 g/litre
- Terroir
- Brioverian schists
- Ageing potential
- 20 years and more
- Serve
- 10°C, opened 1 hour ahead
Tasting Notes
The colour is straw yellow with fine brilliance and golden glints. The nose is fine and elegant, with flavours of yellow fruit, peach, apricot and exotic fruit. The palate is sweet and harmonious with notes of candied fruit. Fresh and long on the palate, this wine is very well balanced and of great subtlety.
Winemaking
Picked by hand in successive passes, the grapes are 80% affected by noble rot. They contain about 290 g of natural sugar per litre at harvest. Pneumatic pressing is very gentle and lasts 3 to 4 hours. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in tank at a natural temperature of 19 to 22°C. Ageing in tank on fine lees to preserve the expression of the Chenin.
History
This cuvée was born in 1995; the oldest vines at the time dated from 1921. After the poor year of 1994, we had the idea of leaf-plucking and thinning by hand on the "rising sun" side of the vines. This work, done in July, aims to avoid crowding of the bunches and to encourage airflow around the vine.
Distributed in Australia by Principal Wine.