The story begins in 1747 with their ancestor, who decided to invest in a piece of land to work the vine. With great fascination and curiosity, he cultivated the vine to harvest its fruit, the grape. This passion has been passed on from generation to generation until today. Seven generations later, the Domaine works 13 hectares of vines, spread over 5 communes and a hundred or so plots. Today, Michel Fonné has been at the head of the estate since 1989. He himself took over from his uncle René Barth, a winegrower, by adding the land of his parents, winegrowers.

Vendanges Tardives

Since 1984, the Vendanges Tardives label has been used to designate great sweet wines made from berries harvested at over-ripeness. The development of Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) on the berries initiates an evaporation phenomenon, which favors the concentration of sugar and aromas.

Winemaking

The work in the vineyard is spread out over the whole year and starts with pruning (double Guyot), followed by the descent of the woods, arching, green work (de-budding) and manual tying-up. At the same time, work the soil is done and the grass is mown regularly while limiting soil compaction. Grapes are usually harvested in September and October. The harvested fruits are introduced into a pneumatic press where the juice is slowly extracted and then sent to a wooden cask. The most important stage then begins: fermentation. This degradation of sugars into alcohol, accomplished by the natural yeasts contained in the grapes, takes place over a few months. The wine thus obtained is then matured on fine lees until bottling.

Tasting notes

To the eye, this wine has a beautiful golden color. On the nose, the Pinot Gris Vendanges Tardives is ample and rich with aromas of candied fruits and flowers. We appreciate in mouth the honeyed softness of this wine. Notes of candied yellow flesh fruits and smoky notes blend harmoniously to express intensity and concentration.

Food pairing

This mellow wine can be enjoyed at the beginning of a meal, as an aperitif. Its roundness makes it a perfect accompaniment to a plate of foie gras, fresh, pan-fried or semi-cooked. Moreover, because of its balance between substance and freshness, this wine sublimates the sweet-salty agreements.