Ancestrale – Château de Passavant 12,5%

Product Description

Region : The Anjou wine area, which is South of the Loire, near Angers, is characterized by the diversity of its soils and its controlled protected appellations (AOP). It lies at the junction between the sedimentary Parisian basin (former geological sea) characterized by white and crumbly rocks, and the Armorican massif containing black and hard rock. Up to 226 500hl/year of wine is produced from an area of 4,450 hectares.

AOP : Anjou

Grape Variety : Chenin 60%, Chardonnay 20%, Cabernet Franc 20%.

Domain : Château de Passavant

Type of Soil : «Briovériens» schist deterioration. organic and certified since 2001.

Density of Planting : n/a

Age of Vines : n/a

Yield : n/c

Features : 12,5% Contains sulfites

Winemaking : Unlike the classical «Champenoise» method that prescribes under mature harvest and the addition of exogenous sugar (beet or cane sugar), the Château de Passavant follows a method called «Ancestrale». The berries are fully mature when they are harvested by hand. It is taken to the cellar in 20 to 25 kg cases in order to preserve the berries. The grapes are slowly pressed. Juices then start their fermentation in tanks. The bottling happens when the base wine contains more than 20g/l of sugar. This quantity of sugar allows fermentation in bottle which creates the fizziness so characteristic of AOC « Crémant de Loire ».

This «Ancestral method» helps the wine being more delicate, gives more density, more typicity and an ideal natural accordance.

The Colour : This wine has a very attractive straw yellow color, shaded with green hints. It has very thin, vivid and persistent bubbles.

The Smell : This «Crémant de Loire» develops typical Chenin aromas such as linden-tree flowers, acidulous apricot along with floral aromas such as Chardonnay typical citronella. Its aging on laths gives complex dry fruits and bun aromas.

The Taste : The attack is frank with thin bubbles. Then the wine develops white fruits and flowers aromas followed by pastries, almond paste and vanilla aromas.

Serving Suggestions :

Excellent as an appetizer, this wine could match meringue pastries, apple or pear cakes or chocolate desserts.

Serve at 10°C

Aging Capacity : 5 to 6 years.