Terroir

Area : variable  -  Communes : Chavanay, Malleval (42) – Grape varieties : Roussanne and Viognier

We produce this wine in years when the climatic conditions are favourable, so the quantity varies greatly depending on the year of harvest and the development of botrytis.  The wines are planted in light granite sands in the St. Joseph appellation area.

 Vinification

Manual harvest, selective picking of berries

3 to 4 passages a year  

Alcoholic fermentation in barrels :  the temperature is controlled at 15-18°C

Botrytised grapes have a very high sugar concentration (potentially more than 25°); this means a slow, difficult fermentation, which nonetheless preserves the whole potential of the grape and, when the process winds down, retains about 200g/l of residual sugar.

Maturing

8 months, 100% new wood, finely grained oak from Allier and Nevers, 

Maturing in oak helps to perfect the aromatic development of this rich wine, which is bottled 8 months later.