Sébastien Riffault, "Auksinis Maceration" 2015

This is a wild, brooding Sancerre from Sébastien Riffault with incredible depth that moves the drinker's mind into the territory of myth. He works 12 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir vines in Sury-en-Vaux, Sancerre, the farthest eastern reaches of Loire Valley winemaking country.

Tasting Notes: Riffault's Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc taken to its most baroque expression, allowed to rebel in its beauty without stern devotion to the cult of dryness and bracing acidity. Riffault's wines are art-pieces, through and through. The 2015 "Auksinis" is as wild as you can come with Sauvignon Blanc, a week-long maceration of mostly botrytized grapes. The nose exudes a rich and pleasant profile of bitter orange, tree sap and sweet fruit, The mouth shows a complex body, savory and fresh, with a touch of sandy tannins. 

Vinification: 100% Sauvignon Blanc hand-harvested from 50 year-old biodynamic vines grown in clay and limestone soil. Spontaneous fermentation occurs with the help of only native yeasts in stainless steel, in contact with the skins for a week. The juice undergoes full malolactic fermentation as well. The wine then ages for 36 months in old barrels. Unfined, unfiltered, no additional SO2. 13% ABV