Southern Rhône, Xavier Vignon, Almutia Clair-obscur, Aop Châteauneuf-du-pape, Blanc
Southern Rhône, Xavier Vignon, Almutia Clair-obscur, Aop Châteauneuf-du-pape, Blanc
Xavier Vignon is one of the top consultant winemakers in the south of France. He used to be a master Champagne blender (so he knows a thing or two about constructing wines) but now lives in the Rhône Valley from where he visits around 300 estates to advise them on viticulture and vinification. At the end of each year, as he hands over his bill, he offers some of his employers to exchange it for barrels to make his own blends - well, that’s more or less how it works!
The story
Worn in the Middle Ages, the aumusse was a purple cap that served as a cloak for ecclesiastics who used it to hide their whiteness, like black grapes that hide their white juice. In Latin, this pilgrim's cloak is called Almutia, a blend of black and white grapes, in chiaroscuro. Almutia is the essence of vivacity, expressed through the pulp of mainly black grape varieties. The multi-millimeter approach has been favored to bring complexity to the wine.
Vinification
Early harvest (mid-August). Grapes are destemmed and crushed, fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.
Varietals
Grenache noir: 40
Mourvèdre: 25
Roussanne: 10
Grenache gris: 10
Grenache blanc: 10
Syrah: 5
Specifications
Alcohol content: % vol.
GM:
Allergenes: Contains sulphites. Does not contain egg or egg products. Does not contain milk or milk-based products.
