Domaine Gouffier Bourgogne Aligote Cuvee Aquaviva 2016
The Domaine Gouffier Bourgogne Aligote Cuvee Aquaviva is an 'orange' wine with subtle notes of tropical fruit enhanced by vanilla oak. This unusual, complex and richly textured wine has a remarkable saline and mouthwatering finish.
Producer Note - Domaine Gouffier owns five and a half hectares of vineyard in the villages of Fontaines and Mercurey in Côte Chalonnaise. The domain has been run by the Gouffier family for generations until Jerome Gouffier handed over the reins to his close friend Frédéric Gueugneau, formerly at La Chablisienne. Since 2011, Frédéric and oenologist Benoît Pagot have brought about a new style of winemaking to the domain. They follow an organic philosophy to create wines that are modern, approachable and affordable, but with all the style and panache of good Burgundy. They have created a collection of wines of outstanding originality, verve and spirit.
Vintage - 2016 was a challenging vintage with spells of hail, frost and mildew. However, warm weather throughout the latter part of the growing cycle resulted in a harvest which winemaker Frédéric has called a classic vintage, with the wines showing a good balance between sugar and acidity.
Vineyard - The vineyard is situated in the heart of the AOC Bourgogne Aligoté in the Côte Chalonnaise. The climate is continental, with warm summers and cold winters. The vineyard is cultivated using organic preparations and the use of chemical herbicides is strictly prohibited. The double Guyot trained vines are carefully managed between the spring and summer months to ensure optimal conditions for healthy, mature grapes at harvest time; with strict debudding, leaf thinning and ploughing of the soil. The vines are grown in marly-chalk soils from the Jurassic period.
Winemaking - The Aligoté grapes were harvested in a healthy condition once they had achieved optimum maturity and were carefully sorted in the cellar. The grapes were 100% destemmed and then very delicately transferred via a conveyor belt directly to a stainless steel tank in order to retain the integrity of the fruit. Cool soaking and fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks on the skins to impart the delicate orange colour to the wine. A proportion of the wine was aged in old French oak, with regular bâtonnage imparting texture and complexity. Working in partnership with their cooper based in Cognac, since the 2013 vintage Domaine Gouffier has been experimenting with using oak from the state forests of Fontaine, just a few miles from the vines, endeavouring to stay true to the local terroir.
Tasting Note - Subtle notes of stone fruit are complemented by floral hints and mineral nuances. Fresh and vibrant, with a lovely rich mouthfeel.
Serving Suggestion - Pairs beautifully with Japanese cuisine, fresh salads or goat's cheese.
Grape Aligoté 100%
Winemaker: Frédéric Gueugneau
Region: Burgundy Sub region: Bourgogne Aligote Country: France
Alcohol: 12%
Dry/Sweet value: 1 (1 is dry, 7 is very sweet)
Residual Sugar: 0.4
Contains Sulphites: Yes
Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes/Yes
Milk/Eggs: No/No
Organic/Biodynamic No/No