Domaine Belliviere, Premices, 2019

Apple, Pear, Mineral

Making biodynamic wines in the northernmost vineyards of the Loire requires determination, passionate commitment, and a cool temperament, as mother nature regularly brings frost, mildew, oidium, and hail but this is exactly what the do, rather well we may add. They started on the backfoot with losses of vineyards to frost  and other things in the early 90's to build up to where they are now. They now have 14 hectares, scattered over 65 parcels within 6 villages. Chenin Blanc represents the vast majority of the Bellivière production. Grapes are diligently picked by hand and in the cellar, each parcel is vinified individually in barrels of various shapes and sizes, permitting Eric and his son Clément to make judicious blending choices each vintage. Fermentations are always done with native yeasts, and often they will not finish all of the grapes' sugars.

Prémices is Bellivière's opening Chenin Blanc, a Jasnières which was originally made from fruit from vines in conversion to biodynamic farming. Since the whole estate is now fully converted to biodynamics, Prémices has evolved into being a barrel selection of the most fruit-forward of the Jasnières--so it remains the first released and the most approachable and straightforward in its youth. It is harvested manually, direct-pressed and fermented in barrel with native yeasts and minimal sulphur; it is aged an average of 10 months in used barrels. Off dry and delicious. One hell of a match for spicy food.