Riffault Sancerre "Akmenine"

Sebastien is waging his own guerrilla warfare in a region where uniformity and the Neo-Pollution of Sauvignon Blanc seemed to be a one-way street for the majority of producers. His resistance, however, is perfectly related to the Sancerre tradition. Akmenine is one of the lieu-dits- single vineyard- Sancerre on clay-limestone soils with 30% of the grapes left to be affected by botrytis at the time of harvest. Vinification takes place in old foudres aged eight to fifteen years and fermentation is spontaneous. The wine is bottled thirty-six months later without filtering, clarification or addition of sulphites. Oxidative character, orangey colour, jams, chamomile blossoms and dry, honeyed elements. Rich on the palate but with balancing acidity. Incredibly complex, uniquely special and distinctive. Certainly miles away from what you have in mind as a basic Sancerre.