France - Domaine Le Briseau Kharakter 2010

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.

Tasting Note
 

Date	09 July 2016
Wine name	KHARAKTER	Vintage	2010
Nation	France	Region	Loir
AOC-DOC	Jasnieres	Grape Varieties	Chenin
Serving temperature	10-12° C	Alcohol	13
Price (in euro)	20	SO2 (in mg/l)	Nd

Visual Examination		Taste analysis
Limpidity	Limpid	Body	Full/Weak
Color	Gold Yellow	Balance	Balanced
Consistency	Quite Consistent	Soft sensations	Quite Soft
Effervescence	//	Hard sensations	Fresh
		Flavors intensity	Quite Intense
Olfactory analysis		Flavours	Apple, Abricot, Coing,
Aroma intensity	Quite Intense		Honey, Wax, White Flowers
Complexity	Quite Complex	Finish/Persistence	Quite Persistent
Quality	Quite Fine	Overall evaluations
Aromas	Fruits, Flowers	Development	Ready
		Harmony	Harmonious

Food and wine pairings

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.

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