LES AUVONNES AU PÉPÉ 2020 (Domaine Sylvain PATAILLE)

DESCRIPTION

LES AUVONNES AU PÉPÉ is a wine produced from Aligoté vines planted in 1930 at the place called Aux Avoines in Marsannay. These almost century-old vines belonged to Sylvain's grandfather, hence the french term PÉPÉ in the name of the cuvée. As for the term AUVONNES, it is the name of the place called Avoine expressed in patois. This plot was, in fact, formerly dedicated to the cultivation of oats.

TERROIR

The vines of the LES AUVONNES AU PÉPÉ cuvée are planted on a plot of approximately 0.1 ha, facing east at an altitude of approximately 250 meters, at a place called Aux Avoines. The terroir is made up of cone pebbles that were deposited during the last Quaternary glaciation period, 20,000 years ago: gravel and pebbles initially coming from the plateaus and transported by ancient rivers during the successive freezes / unfreeze episodes have been accumulating in the combe.

WINEGROWING & WINEMAKING

The estate is usually certified Organic Culture, a certification that it unfortunately lost in 2016 to save the few grapes that had survived frost and hail. It will once again be Organic certified from the 2020 vintage.

After the harvest, the grapes are rigorously sorted and then pressed using a vertical press for 5 to 7 hours. The must is then fermented in old barrels of several wines and in demi-muid. Alcoholic fermentation starts spontaneously under the native yeasts action, followed by the malolactic fermentation. The must continues maturing on fine lees for 12 months.

When the aging phase is over, the must is drawn off without fining and then lightly filtered only if this operation is necessary. It is then bottled with a light addition of sulfites to stabilize the wine.