2022 Domaine de la Villaudiere Cuvee"Silex" Sancerre Loire Valley, France (750ml)   

About the Icons
_{A Seasonal Rosé Wine Club Selection}
This family estate is surrounded by vineyards and overlooks the charming village of Verdigny, offering stunning views of the famous Sancerre hill. For generations the Reverdy family has cultivated this 15 hectare vineyard. Today Jean-Marie Reverdy manages the flourishing Domaine de la Villaudière with his wife, Catherine and their son, now winemaker, Guillaume. Their youngest son, Baptiste, also shares a love of wine, and plans to play his part in the family business when his studies are finished.

The Reverdy family strongly believes in tradition and managing their production with patience and deep respect for the land. They produce all three of the wines authorized in Sancerre, white, rosé, and red, with the white being produced exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc, and both red and rosé made from Pinot Noir. Many of the vines are now 40 years of age and reaching the pinnacle of their quality potential. 50% are planted in clay-limestone soil locally referred to as “Terres Blanches” and the other 50% in dry, stony limestone soil called “Caillotes”.

The vines selected for this rosé are around twenty years of age and enjoy an easterly exposure, where ripening is slow and gradual. The vines are partially thinned in July to maintain good health throughout the growing cycle and obtain good maturity. The Pinot Noir grapes are usually harvested early to retain the freshness and acidity essential for a good rosé.

This Sancerre rosé was obtained 60% from direct pressing and 40% bled juice. The bled juice was drawn off after a light maceration to obtain the desired pale salmon color. After settling for 12 to 24 hours, the must was placed in stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks where fermentation took place at between 59°F and 68°F. At the end of fermentation, the wine was racked off the lees. To preserve freshness and lively acidity, bottling was carried out early in the year after clarification and cold-stabilization.

Bright pink hue with salmon highlights. Enticing bouquet of juicy red fruits. The palate is bursting with tart strawberry and raspberry flavors, with a hint of tomato leaf. The bright finish is long, juicy and ends with mineral-laced flourish.