COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2023
GRAPE
Chenin Blanc
PRODUCER
La Grange Aux Belles
REGION
Loire
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
La Grange Aux Belles was founded in 2004 by Marc Houtin, who left a career in the oil industry to pursue winemaking in the Loire Valley. Joined by partners Jesse and Caroline, the estate is located in the Anjou region. In 2014, the domaine chose to exit the AOC system to produce wines under the Vin de France designation, allowing them to bypass traditional constraints and maintain their low-intervention, natural winemaking philosophy. The cuvée Fragile represents the delicate challenge of crafting stable, dry Chenin Blanc with zero added sulfites from vineyards planted on black schist soils.
ALCOHOL
13.5%
AVG. PRICE
€24
STYLE
Natural
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
NO
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
8-10°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The estate chose to exit the AOC system in 2014 to bypass traditional constraints and protect their natural winemaking philosophy.
Fact 02
The name Fragile refers to the high-wire act of crafting a stable, dry Chenin Blanc with zero added sulfites.
Fact 03
Grapes are harvested in up to five meticulous manual passes to select only golden, perfectly ripe berries with zero rot.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The grapes are 100% hand-harvested in up to five selective passes (tris successifs) to ensure only perfectly ripe, golden-yellow berries are selected. Whole bunches are directly pressed upon arrival. Fermentation begins spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in neutral oak barrels and stainless steel or fiberglass tanks. Approximately 20% of the wine is aged in neutral oak barrels, while the remaining 80% ages in stainless steel and fiberglass on its fine lees for 12 to 13 months. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with zero or exceptionally minimal sulfur additions.
