2016
Chenin Blanc
100% Chenin Blanc. L`Effraie or "the owl”--in reference to local vineyard inhabitants--is a Coteaux du Loir sourced from Bellivière's "younger" non-Jasnières vines, which by their definition effectively means anything under 50 years old, some of them as young as 10 years old. The collective yield is a modest 35 hl/ha. The parcels are scattered and generally on flinty, clay-limestone soils rich in tuffeau (soft limestone). They are farmed biodynamically and harvested by hand. The fruit is direct-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeasts and minimal sulfur; the wine is aged in 1-to-3-year old barrels with a small proportion (1/4) of new oak for one year. Each parcel is vinified and aged separately and blended before bottling.