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49 St-Joseph Blanc AC 2007 Les Oliviers
Pierre GononGrape:80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne (13.8% alc.)
Les Oliviers, just to the north of Mauves is an excellent vineyard for the production of rich whites. The soil here is ancient Rhône alluvium and some loess on a granitic bedrock. It is rich and opulent with apricot and quince fruit cosseted by an irony minerality derived from granite. For drinking now to 2015.
Technical Information Winemaker: Pierre & Jean Gonon Location: Tournon, lieu-dit ‘les Oliviers’ Size of
domaine:7½ hectares (2 white) Grape: 80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne, average age 33 years . Rootstock 3309 Selection massale. Plant density 6,500 to 9,000 vines per hectare. Trained gobelet with stakes. Terroir: Lower slopes – ancient Rhône alluvium and some loess on granite bedrock. All vines planted on terraces at between 120 and 220 metres with a southerly aspect. Top soil of a metre. Viticulture: Make their own compost but not spread on annual basis (soils analysed first). Sulphure to treat oidium and a plant ‘tisane’ to treat pests – no insecticides. Plough in spring and summer. Also hand weed between the vines themselves. Vendanges en verts are not systematic (cut out small bunches only)- when needed. De-buds. Very careful selection in the vineyards- ‘trie a la vigne’. 38H/H yield. Vinification: Not destalked – whole bunches go into pneumatic press. After press allowed to settle for 12 hours (use indigenous yeasts). Juice is chilled in cuve first to allow a slow start to the alcoholic fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation in 220 litre oak 3-15 yr old barrels, and at 20C. Usually lasts 3 weeks but has lasted 7 months. Cellars are not heated for malo which is also in barrel. Usually carries out batonnage once a week until May. Fined with bentonite but not filtered. Bottled in September. 10,000 bottles. Press: