*New* 111 Savennières AC 2007 Equilibre
Domaine du Gué d’Orger

Grape:100% Chenin (14% alc.)

This is Loic Mahé’s top cuvee and the extremely low yields (11 hectos per hectare) give a dry wine with sumptuous concentration. On the palate the wine has excellent balance, and there are hints of quince, ginger and mountain herbs, then mineral stamp on the exceptionally long finish. Best served carafed, at cellar temperature. For drinking now to 2020+.

Technical Information
Winemaker:	Loic Mahe
Location:	Savennières – le Gabillard (opposite the château of Bizolières)
Size of domaine:	4.5 hectares of which 1.8 hectares for this cuvée
Grape:	10 year old chenin. Clonal selection (220 and 982) on Riparia rootstock. 4000 vines per hectare, trained double guyot.
Terroir:	100% schist on a gentle 5% south facing slope. 80 metres above sea level. There is 20 to 40cm of descomposed schist top soil overlying the mother rock.
Viticulture:	Allow grass to grow and plough alternate rows. Debud but aim not to carry out vendanges en vert. Use Bordeaux mix against oidium, and nothing or bacillus turengentis against pests. Use compost 1 year in 3. Harvested by hand in 2 to 4 tries per year. The yield was just 11hh in 07, but normally the yield would e in the 20-30hh range. In conversion to organic viticulture since August 1st 2008 and practiced biodynamic viticulture from 2009.
Vinification:	Use a 15hl Vaslin press. No botrytised grapes. Press gently for 4-5 hours. Allow the must to settle for 12 hours before transferring to 3-5 yr old 220l barrels for the fermentation. Indigenous yeasts, no chaptalisation. The fermentation takes place at between 10-15ºC and the temperature is not controlled. It is long and very slow, lasting between 6-8 months. Malolactics are allowed to take place but usually only partially complete. The elevage takes place in the same barrels as the fermentation with occasional batonnage in spring. Aged for 18 months on average. Lightly filtered by white clay before bottling. Use Christian Brault for bottling. Normally bottled in Feb/March after 18 months: produced 1900 bts in 2007 (the objective is 5000-7000).
Press:

 

qty (bottles)

exc vat: £16.98