Clos de La Roilette Cuvee Tardive Fleurie – 1.5 L (2022)
100% Gamay. From the oldest vines,which are from 80 years on up, on heavy clay soils with relatively little granite and quite a lot of the iron-like mineral manganese. “Tardive” does not mean that the harvest is late, as is commonly believed, but rather is a reference to the wine’s ability and need to age for years. The farming is sustainable or lutte raisonnĂ©e. All vineyard work is by hand, with the soils worked only superficially, at most twice per year, to protect the roots of these old vines. Vinification is traditional, semi-carbonic Beaujolais style. The whole clusters are harvested by hand and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in open-top concrete tank. Maceration lasts around 18 days for Tardive, with a submerged cap rather than punchdowns. Sulfur use is quite minimal. The wine is aged in large, old oak foudres for about 9 months before bottling.