Although more red wines are produced in the Côtes du Rhône, Michel Chapoutier also has several vineyards planted with white grapes such as Bourboulenc, Clairette, and Grenache Blanc. Mr. Chapoutier is a true powerhouse, visionary, and pioneer of biodynamic viticulture, and one of France's most respected winemakers. Winemaker Michel Chapoutier planted the vineyards for this white Belleruche in the southern part of the Côtes du Rhône. The climate there is slightly warmer, allowing the grapes to develop into true stars. The fresh wind that blows through the vineyards is crucial for ensuring the grapes mature evenly and retain their natural freshness.
After a calm and balanced growing process, the grapes are harvested early in the morning under the supervision of Michel Chapoutier. Why so early, you might wonder? Well, when the grapes are cool, they retain their natural freshness, which we taste in this white Belleruche wine. But even more importantly, when the grapes are still cool, the risk of bruising during transport is minimized. The grapes arrive at M. Chapoutier in small crates and are sorted again on sorting tables. Only the finest bunches are used in this white wine, giving it its soft and pure character. The entire wine is aged for a full five months on the lees, or yeast cells. This gives it a full and creamy texture with a rich flavor profile.
It all begins the moment you open the bottle, as it already offers lovely hints of the French sun, with fresh white fruit and a touch of fresh white flowers. Pouring reveals a beautiful light yellow color with green highlights. Nosing the glass, we discovered notes of red apple, hawthorn, white flowers, citrus, and plenty of exotic fruit. The palate is mildly dry with a lovely oily texture. Nuances of tropical and white fruit complemented by subtle notes of citrus and passion fruit.
