Domaine and
vineyard
Christian
Chaussard worked in the public works sector accompanying this main insane
passion for wine business. In 2001 he meets Nathalie Gaubicher, Swiss actress
with a sommelier diploma. The result is a great love story and, since 2002, the
Domaine Le Briseau, in the Loir region, between Tours and Le Mans.
At
first the 4 hectares are planted with vines and the two producers buy grapes
from their neighbors to start production. Since 2010 the domaine comes to its
present size of 10.5 hectares. Since the first vintage the philosophy of their
producers is clear: work the vineyard organically and produce natural wines
without chemical additions. Easy to say but not to get in a wetland and heavily
infested with parasites and fungi. The work and fighting spirit of Christian
cross regional boundaries so as extending to him the post of President of the
French association of Natural Wines.
And
so as to leave the world of natural wine deeply affected by his death in 2012
in an accident with a tractor. His departure is his wife Nathalie to take the
reins of the domaine, continuing the work begun by her husband.
Of
10.5 hectares of vineyards today, six are dedicated to red grapes (Pineau
d'aunis, Cot, Gamay) and 4.5 to white (chenin only). The parcels are located in
different areas to altitude and exposure, but all of a mainly clay-limestone
terroir. As mentioned above, the interventions, in the vineyard and in the
cellar are minimized to allow the grapes to achieve their potential. The
harvest is done by hand, in boxes of 10kg to preserve the integrity of the
grapes to the press.
The
vinification of red follows a fairly standardized procedure: remixing and
crushing occur with your feet and continue during maceration that varies from
15 to 40 days. The wines then end up directly in barrels not new for ripening.
For
white the pressing takes place immediately after the harvest and lasts from 3
to 6 hours. After debourbage, the wort passes in barrels for fermentation that
can 'take up to a year. Even in this case is used not new wood.
The wine
The Domain The Briseau KHARAKTER 2010 comes from a single parcel of Chenin
Blanc AOC Jasnières located in the territory. The plot is only 1 hectare,
exposed to the south and with a clay-limestone terroir. The vines are the
oldest of the domaine, average age 45-50 years.
The grapes are harvested slightly overripe to add the sugar component to
that of Chenin mineral.
Date
|
09 July 2016
|
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Wine name
|
KHARAKTER
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Vintage
|
2010
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Nation
|
France
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Region
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Loir
|
AOC-DOC
|
Jasnieres
|
Grape Varieties
|
Chenin
|
Serving temperature
|
10-12° C
|
Alcohol
|
13
|
Price (in euro)
|
20
|
SO2 (in mg/l)
|
Nd
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Visual Examination
|
Taste analysis
|
|||
Limpidity
|
Limpid
|
Body
|
Full/Weak
|
|
Color
|
Gold Yellow
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Balance
|
Balanced
|
|
Consistency
|
Quite Consistent
|
Soft sensations
|
Quite Soft
|
|
Effervescence
|
//
|
Hard sensations
|
Fresh
|
|
Flavors intensity
|
Quite Intense
|
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Olfactory analysis
|
Flavours
|
Apple, Abricot, Coing,
|
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Aroma intensity
|
Quite Intense
|
Honey, Wax, White Flowers
|
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Complexity
|
Quite Complex
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Finish/Persistence
|
Quite Persistent
|
|
Quality
|
Quite Fine
|
Overall evaluations
|
||
Aromas
|
|
Development
|
Ready
|
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Harmony
|
Harmonious
| |||
Dishes of fish,
shellfish or goat cheese.
This
wine is almost a myth, because closely related to the figure of Christian
Chaussard (in the store where I bought were keen to stress that it was a
vintage "vinified" yet to Chaussard). Wine plays a very delicate
balance between mineral and sweet, the result of the distinctive features of
Chenin and overripe desired oenologist. In addition, the absence of stabilizers
because wine is really transforms this natural equilibrium line in a line ...
curve, with the taste that spills on fresh or mineral drink in sips. And that,
for this goes perfectly with the young goat cheeses. However, a different wine,
not necessarily memorable.
Official website: //
