Country: France Region: Northern Rhône Vintage: 2018
Category: White Wine Colour: White
Producer: Maison Maison Les Alexandrins
Description
There is a difference of Terroir between the vines planted North of Tain l’Hermitage, on the slopes of Gervans and those located in the villages further south.
Terroir
Our wine is made from Marsanne grapes from vines with an average age of 20 years. The grapes come from different terroirs. In the north, granite slopes from “Les Pends” (with limestone on the surface) and in the South, stony soils on the locality of Chanos Curson. We aim to keep the finesse and minerality (vines from Les Pends) and at the same time, length and body (vines from Chanos Curson).
The vintage
In 2018, we were lucky to have another very good vintage in the Northern Rhône Valley. A generous and qualitative crop despite major climatic hazards that required the greatest attention. There was an early start to the vegetative cycle with a particularly rainy spring, especially in May and June, causing suspicions of mildew, which, fortunately did not take place. Then the summer was scorching hot with drought and risks hailstorms. These tense and extreme conditions required increased monitoring, responsiveness and constant vigilance in the vineyard.
The harvest then began under bright sunshine on August 31st with our first harvest on the Brézèyme appellation and ended on September 25th with the red St Joseph. For each area, the sessions were quite short, with a very strict selection of the bunches, in order to harvest at optimum maturity while maintaining freshness and liveliness. We have worked daily, tasting the berries, differentiating the age of the vines, the grape varieties, the terroirs to personalise each snip of secateurs and only select the best.
Thus, the 2018 wines are ample, voluptuous and generous, with great liveliness and freshness.
Situation
Crozes-Hermitage is the biggest appellation of the Northern Rhône with over 1300 hectares. It spreads over 11 localities in the Drôme on the left bank of the Rhône River. The village of Mecurol and Chanos Curson are renowned for the production of Crozes-Hermitage Blanc.
Process
Vinified in demi-Muids (600 l).
Ageing 50% in demi-Muids and 50% in stainless steel vats for 6 months.
Varietals
marsanne blanche : 65%
Roussanne : 35%