Riffault - Sancerre Akmenine - 2009
Name: Sancerre Blanc Akmenine AOC
Winery: Domaine Etienne et Sébastien Riffault
Producer: Sébastien Riffault
Area: Sury-en-Vaux - Loire
Grapes: Sauvignon
Type: Skin contact white wine - Orange wine
Alcohol: 13%
Size: 75 cl
The Wine
The Producer
SANCERRE AKMENINE 2009
This true giant of a Sauvignon goes against the common tendency in Sancerre to produce wines that are mostly technologically standard and, let's face it, quite homologated. Akmenine is a mature, warm, pulpy wine, in the glass it is a concentrated grape juice. A skilfully made macerated white which, like all Sebastien wines, takes its name (in Lithuanian in homage to his wife) from the single 3-hectare cru from which it comes. 100% Sauvignon from 30-year-old vines grown in a biodynamic way, the grapes are harvested slightly late to enhance their richness and concentration. Spontaneous fermentation with 30% of botrytized grapes and light contact with the skins in steel, followed by 36 months of aging in used barrels before bottling without clarification, filtration or addition of SO2. Solar strength, unearthly density and complexity reign. Bitter-sweet honey with glazed lime zest on medlar sorbet, red spices and cinnamon baked apples.
