Domaine de la Chataigneraie - Clos la Lanterne 2005

Steven Defour      Izegem  (Bélgica)

In the ideal 2005 vintage, Benoit Gautier produced an exceptional, fully dry Clos La Lanterne . The grapes were harvested under perfect conditions on October 15th. The grapes fermented in 500 litre barrels (between 1-5 years old) in Gautier's cool cellar for 2 months. After one racking to remove the gross lees, the young wine was aged on its fine lees for 9 more months, with occasional stirring of the lees for its enrichment. Maturation took place in Gautier's cool cellar caves, which are cut into the limestone hillside. (Aging in these conditions naturally prevents the onset of malolactic fermentation, thus enhancing the wine's freshness.) The Clos La Lanterne 2005 was bottled after a light filtration on September 7th, 2006. It expresses the perfect ripeness of the Chenin Blanc grapes in the 2005 vintage (flavors of citrus, pear and quince are in evidence now) and the complex minerality and raciness that is the hallmark of its vineyard of origin. The Clos La Lanterne 2005 can be enjoyed when young or aged for many years to come.

Listas: Frankrijk, Loire wit, Touraine, Vouvray