France | Loire | Domaine Les Pieres Ecrites | Montlouis-sur-Loire Petits Boulay

Montlouis-sur-Loire Petits Boulay

Varietal
Chenin Blanc

Notes

VINEYARD: The 5ha Petits Boulay parcel located in St Martin Le Beau. The vines average 35 years old and are planted on sandy loess and clay soils. Grass is planted in every second row and the topsoil in the others is tilled so as to check the development of surface roots. No chemicals are used. The Rassins do all vineyard work by hand (debudding, leaf stripping) and are in the process of adapting their pruning methods to put less stress on the vines by letting the sap flow more evenly (an important factor due to the ongoing problem of vine mortality.) Yields are kept to a low 30 hl/ha.

VINIFICATION: The grapes are hand-harvested and transported in small crates to ensure they arrive intact, and with natural yeasts present on the grapes. The fruit is lightly pressed and as little So2 as possible is used. There is no malolactic fermentation for the still wines; with a natural pH level of 3 and high acidity, it does not occur naturally. Aged on the fine lees in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Unfined. Petits Boulay is the wine obtained from the first Chenin Blanc pick - a week earlier than Empreintes.