VDF "Rive Droite" (White) 2018

A 100% Chardonnay from his limestone and clay soils on the right bank of the river. These soils are lower in clay, which he believes yields a more lively expression of Chardonnay. Indeed this wine is less fruity than most Loire Chardonnays, but has a yeasty, buttery vein and a slight oxidative note. Lots of body and a lingering finish. Serve at 10-12°C.

While Reynald Héaulé is known for his passion for blending rare and native grapes, this cuvée is one of his few single-varietal wines. Many winemakers see Chardonnay as a neutral variety, but Héaulé uses a range of tools to create a different expression of this widely-panted grape. These tools include alternate practices in the vineyard, experiments with fermentation temperatures, lees work, and long ageing. He refers to the wine as an “ensemble of elements in interaction.”

Vinification: Vines averaging 15 years-old are grown on quartz and clay soils with a limestone base. The grapes are hand-harvested, gently pressed and then fermented. The wines is aged for up to 30 months in old oak barrels. This wine is unfiltered.

Match it with: Roast poultry, fish “en-papillote”, creamy cheeses.