COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2022
GRAPE
Chenin Blanc
PRODUCER
Domaine des Sablonnettes
REGION
Loire
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Domaine des Sablonnettes, run by Christine and Joel Menard (now with their son Jeremy), is a Loire Valley estate renowned for its commitment to biodynamic farming and natural winemaking. Their "Le P'tit Blanc" is a vibrant expression of Chenin Blanc from the Anjou sub-region, celebrated as one of the "OG" natural wines. This wine embodies a philosophy of minimal intervention, resulting in a pure, playful, and fragrant wine that can be enjoyed without pretense. It's a sought-after, allocated wine, reflecting the Menards' dedication to producing "vibrantly alive" wines that truly speak of their schist soils and three decades of biodynamic practice.
ALCOHOL
11.0%
AVG. PRICE
€25
STYLE
Natural
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
NO
When to drink
Now
Ideal temperature
8-10°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
It's considered one of the 'OG' (Original Gangster) natural wines, pioneering the style.
Fact 02
The producer, Domaine des Sablonnettes, has practiced biodynamic farming for over three decades.
Fact 03
This wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfur, showcasing true natural winemaking.
Fact 04
A week of partial skin contact for this white wine helps nourish yeasts and ensures a dry finish.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The Chenin Blanc grapes for Le P'tit Blanc are sourced from 30-year-old vines grown on schist soils, cultivated biodynamically without the use of chemicals. Grapes are hand-harvested to ensure quality. In the cellar, the wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel or epoxy tanks. A unique aspect of its vinification includes about a week of partial skin contact, which helps nourish the yeasts and ensures a dry wine, with one source specifying a majority pressed with 10% macerated Chenin. The wine is then aged on fine lees in epoxy tanks, remaining unoaked. Crucially, it is bottled without fining or filtration and with zero added sulfur, preserving its natural character and slight cloudiness.
