Stefan Vetter Sylvaner Steinterrassen Muschelkalk 2017 (Sylvaner)
In 2010, Stefan replied to a small newspaper listing, advertising a tiny vineyard for lease in his native region of Franken. The vineyard was accessible only by an overgrown, forest path, and was surrounded by nature. It had been planted with Sylvaner as long ago as 1934. For Stefan, it was love at first sight. He now leases three vineyards of Sylvaner, along with a tiny smattering of other grape varieties and a small cider orchard. The winemaking takes place in an extension of his grandparents’ house, with only around 500 bottles of each cuvee produced each year.
Clearly this is a project driven not by commercial success, but by a vision and soulful understanding of the potential Sylvaner has in this place.
This cuvée comes from older vines on steep, terraced vineyards of solid limestone. It is pressed very gently over several hours, then spends about 2 years in neutral barrels.
Domaine de L'Ecu ‘Rednoz’ 2015 (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Upon seeing Domaine de L’Ecu in a theme of surf & turf you would think that one of this historic estate’s Muscadet bottlings would surely be included, yet here we are with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. This region is capable of producing more than just the saline Melon de Bourgogne that is so ubiquitously used to wash down oysters. Think of it as Northern Bordeaux; Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon thrive on the granite and gabbro soils of the area, but with less warmth. Less sun means more acidity and retention of freshness, which helps to explain why this bottling from 2015 is bursting with energy!
A semi-carbonic (whole clusters in tank, but not pressurized) maceration and movement only by gravity help to retain that freshness as well. Unsulphured, yet you can enjoy its peppery and fruity goodness over several days.
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