Domaine de la Bergerie - 'Crémant de Loire' - Chenin Blanc, Chard/Meunier/Pinot - Loire Valley, FR - NV

Satellite's Hot Take

30% chard, 70% chenin - delicious and bright with tension but openness. Tight and elegant - need to confirm persistent bubbles though

Notes from the Winery/Importer

This crémant brut nature (no added sugar) is synonymous with finesse, tension and aromatic richness. Grape variety Chenin, Chardonnay (20%)

Terroir
Chenin: Champ-sur-layon, on clay-shist soil
Chardonnay: Rablay-sur-layon on sand and gravel soil

Winemaking
Traditional method: :
– 1st tank fermentation, during which a little residual sugar is retained in order to restart a 2nd bottle fermentation.
– Aged 2 to 3 years on lath before disgorging.

Tasting notes
The bubbles are fine and dynamic, with white fruit aromas. When enjoying a crémant, it’s often fun to play with textures. Let’s take a mint risotto with fresh peas; the bubbles add relief to the creaminess of the dish. The two meet on the freshness thanks to mint. Finally, the sweetness of peas naturally echoes the fruitiness of the cuvée.

Notes on the Producer

A Loire vineyard, our Domaine is located in the Anjou region, at the eastern end of the Armorican Massif.
The estate is located in the heart of Anjou Noir. The region is so named for its dark soils, mostly composed of schist bedrock. There’s also sandstone, poudingues, clay… and many other geological nuances. The 27 hectares that make up our vineyard benefit from and are enriched by this diversity. They are also exposed to a mild oceanic influence. This unique terroir allows us to explore all the facets of the estate’s grape varieties, such as Chenin, Cabernet franc and Pineau d’Aunis. To preserve and enhance the soils and diversity of the site, the estate has been certified organic since 2016. The history of the Guégniard family has been written on this land for several generations…
Our vineyard has been certified Organic since the 2016 vintage.
Because quality is our watchword, we strive to maintain consistency in the excellence of our wines. To achieve this, we devote a great deal of time to the vines, in order to harvest quality raw materials. As winemakers committed to sustainable viticulture, we are guided in our choices by common sense and observation. Depending on the nature of the soil, we either grass or cultivate it superficially. Throughout the year, work is carried out with a view to the coming harvest (respectful pruning, disbudding, thinning, severe selection during the harvest…) and is adapted to each vintage. In the cellar, we accompany our wines with care and simplicity. We adapt our breeding methods to our “juices”, respecting their land of origin and their identity. Each plot is vinified and aged separately to preserve the authenticity and expression of the terroir. The choice of blends is made on the basis of a few cuvées.