Appellation: Saumur-Champigny.
Cuvée: Ruben.
Colour: Red.
Grapes: Cabernet Franc.
About: a richer wine than Hanami, this was the first Cuvée made by both Sebastien and Emeline. Named after Emeline’s godchild.
Vines
Location: in Saumur.
Size ha: 4.
Age: 40 years old.
Soils: limestone and clay.
Exposition: gentle slope.
Altitude m: 95.
Training: guyot.
Farming: organic, biodynamic, ploughing. Certified AB.
Average yield hl/ha: 35.
Climate: temperate with some ocean influence.
Winemaking
The harvest is picked by hand into 20kg boxes and subject to a sorting in the vineyard. It’s de-stemmed and put into concrete tank un-crushed so that a portion will be subject to carbonic maceration. Some extraction is carried out by pumping over. It ferments by natural yeasts at temperatures controlled to 22ºC, on the skins for 30 days. It’s pressed by pneumatic press and put in a mix of barriques and 40hl foudres to age for 7 months. It’s bottled after natural clarification, without filtration.
Vintage notes 2018
A lovely year with a great balance due to nature’s delivery of the right amount at the right time of both rain and sunshine. The risk of mildew was minimised. The resultant wines pack a lovely vegetal juiciness with pure aromas.
Yield hl/ha: 40
Harvested:
Bottles produced: 12,000.
Date bottled: 2019-06
Alcohol: 14.05%
SO2 Total: 27
Tasting: .
Vintage notes 2019
A generally excellent year spoiled by a frost in spring which reduced the crop by 40%. After, there was plenty of sunshine, a good floraison, some heatwave which didn’t hurt.
Yield hl/ha: 40
Harvested:
Bottles produced: 12,000
Date bottled: 2021-03.
Alcohol:
SO2 Total:
Tasting: from tank 2021-01-12 a deeper core of red and black fruit, more mineral, still the vibrant, stylish freshness of Bobinet. Again, 20 great from tank, very pure. Soon.