Les Vins du Léman - 'Quintessence' - Chasselas - Savoie, FR - 2019

'Quintessence' is a result of Dominique's recent négociant project, a wine from his former Crépy AOC near Lake Geneva, as a pursuit for well crafted, more approachable Chasselas compared with some of the other examples in neighbouring AOC's. Since this does not share the AOC of the rest of his wines, he has decided to label it under a seperate name - 'Les Vins du Leman', named after the neighbouring Lake. A lemony bright and refreshing white, and at 11% alcohol, this stony cut Chasselas is like mountain Muscadet that empties from the glass quickly.

• Variety: Chasselas
• Vine Age: Planted in the 1990s
• *Terroir: *Glacial moraines, molasse, silt. Western exposure.
• Viticulture: Organic (official conversion), biodynamic methods
• Vinification: Picked twice at harvest, gentle pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation (16°C) in fiber tanks and demi-muids. Aged 7 months, light filtration (white earth), no SO2 added until bottling (30 mg/l max).

• Location: Ballaison, Haute Savoie
• Size: 7.50 ha (18.53 ac), plus 4.5 ha (11.12 ac) négoce separated because they are in official organic conversion.
• Varieties: Chasselas, Chardonnay, Savagnin, Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Altesse, Chenin, Gamay, Pinot Noir
• Viticulture: Organic (certified), biodynamic
• Vinification (whites): Direct pressing for 3.5 hours at low pressure, indigenous yeasts, various ageing vessels (demi-muids, concrete eggs, amphorae). SO2: none added at vinification or ageing, adjusted only before bottling (30 mg/l max).
  https://chambersstwines.com/Articles/6570/les-vignes-de-paradis-the-wines-of-dominique-lucas
  ^ Read it! This guy really rocks.