Tasting Notes
The Sorbée plot is a little plateau above the slope where Vouette sits and is almost pure Portlandian limestone—something very rare in Champagne. The site is almost flat, with a slight exposure towards the southwest. Gautherot harvests here in multiple passes, with only the smallest bunches and ripest fruit making it into his Saignée.
Sorbée is the vineyard that gives Bertrand the least amount of stress. The vines here are between 32 and 50 years old and were planted with an old massale selection from Domaine Lafarge in Volnay. The soils have been cultivated since at least the 1860s, with no herbicides ever used. Gautherot feels that this made it easier to transition this site to his biodynamic practices.
Uncrushed whole grapes were macerated in an open wooden vat before pressing. Vinified entirely without sulphur, the wine was then aged for 10 months in 400-litre barrels before being disgorged without any dosage. It’s a vibrant, red-fruited, bunchy and light-bodied sparkling red. Crushed wild strawberry, nettle and an earthy, complex lick that I assume comes from the no-sulphur aging. - Importer Note
An increased focus on the environment and an awareness of sustainable agriculture have given rise to a huge increase in organic viticulture. This is an exciting area of growth in the world of wine, and if done right, one that leads to better wines, healthier vines and soils, and less stress on the earth.
But what makes a wine organic?
Organic wine refers to a method of farming, rather than winemaking. It all starts in the vineyard, where vignerons and viticulturalists no longer use synthetic or systemic pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers. Instead they opt for organic compounds such as copper and sulfur, which can help reduce he pressure of disease and pests. This results in much better vine and soil health, with no unwanted chemicals leeching into local rivers and waterways through run-off.
Organic farming is not to be confused with Biodynamic farming which, although similar, is a different approach and requires many more specific practices. These practices such as specific soil preparations, and lunar-cycle harvesting are not necessary to achieve an organic system.
It is important to note that organic wines can still have sulphur dioxide added to them. Sulphur is an organic compound, and therefore winemakers are free to add it to their wines, and still achieve organic certification. Winemakers will often add sulphur to help stabilise the wine and protect it from oxygen come bottling time. The wine will still be completely organic, assuming the proper farming practices have been adhered to.
| Product Type | Wine Sparkling Champagne |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Sub Region | Aube |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |