France – Thierry Renard Renard des Cotes 2013

Domaine and vineyard

Thierry Renard is a sui generis wine maker. At the beginning of years 2000 he started his personal challenge to save the last vined parcels up on the hills of Chanturgue, few kilometers far from Clermont-Ferrand, from urbanization. A dozen of very small parcels (overall extended 1.3 hectares) scattered among the constructions of the local commercial and industrial area.

Chanturgue lies on a unique terroir: the village is on an ancient volcano, so the terrain has a first layer of marl and clay, followed by a layer of basaltic rocks covering another layer of sand and flint.

All the parcels aren’t accessible with motored engines so all the work in the vineyard is done manually, with the maximum of respect to nature. On these parcels, Thierry Renard cultivates Gamay and Chardonnay with yields extremely low, in the order of 10 hl/ha 

The wine

Renard des Cotes 2013  is a 100% Chardonnay.

Tasting Note

Date	16 May 2016
Wine name	RENARD DES COTES	Vintage	2013
Nation	France	Region	Auvergne
AOC-DOC	//	Grape Varieties	100 % Chardonnay
Serving temperature	12° C	Alcohol	12,5
Price (in euro)	19	SO2 (in mg/l)	Nd

Visual Examination		Taste analysis
Limpidity	Limpid	Body	Full
Color	Straw pale yellow	Balance	Balanced
Consistency	Quite consistent	Soft sensations	Dry
Effervescence	//	Hard sensations	Quite Fresh
		Flavors intensity	Quite Intense
Olfactory analysis		Flavours	White flowers, vanilla
Aroma intensity	Quite Intense
Complexity	Quite Complex	Finish/Persistence	Quite Persistent
Quality	Fine	Overall evaluations
Aromas	White flowers, vanilla, honey	Development	Ready
		Harmony	Harmonious

Food pairing

Rich dishes made with white meat, mushrooms or aged cow cheese.

Chardonnay is an international grape variety capable of offering good products in very different terroir and in very heterogeneous weather conditions. The wine itself is good, with a pleasant set of aromas and a mélange of flavors that make this wine very nice even by it, just for tasting. And even better when matched with a good cheese.

In addition, it is important to underline that this wine has two strengths: first of all is a natural wine; so no sulfites added, no filtration. But, notwithstanding that, the wine is pure, limpid and perfectly balanced. Second strength is certainly the producer, his background, his challenge and the very limited production he achieves to put on the market. So chapeau to Thierry Renard, his wine and his campaign. 

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