Deep gold color; green apple, lemon, pear, honeydew melon, brioche, cinnamon, vanilla, minerality, chalk, minerality, wet wool on the nose and palate.
Sec (zero dosage, but slightly sweet); racy acidity (3.1-3.3 pH); persistent bubbles; creamy, medium body. 100% chenin blanc from the Vouvray region of the Loire Valley. Made using the ancestral method—pétillant naturel (pét nat)—which is older by centuries than the traditional method (méthode champenoise). In a pét nat, the wine is bottled while it is still fermenting. The trapped CO2 creates the bubbles. The method is both simple and unpredictable. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand to ensure quality and minimize damage. Fermented with indigenous yeasts. No added sugar or commercial yeasts are a hallmark. Winemakers carefully monitor residual sugar and the fermentation rate; these factors determine the final pressure and sweetness of the wine. 13% ABV
Traditional pét nat can be cloudy and some reduced perlage. That is not the case with this wine. It is clear and the bubbles are very tiny, persistent. This is a complex wine that stands apart from mass-produced Vouvray and rustic pét nat sparkling. At the same time, it presents as a fun, approachable wine. Certainly is a quality introduction to both pét nat and to sparkling chenin blanc (Vouvray).
Domaíne Vincent Carême is a charming partnership of Vincent and Tania Carême. They are steadfast advocates of organic viticulture. Vincent is a first-generation vigneron. He established the domaine in 1999 with just over six acres of vineyards in Vernou-sir-Brenne—now expanded to 42 acres in Vouvray. He brought hands-on experience in Sancerre, Champagne, Thailand, and—particularly—in South Africa, where he invested in a holistic approach to viticulture. Tania Carême, his South African-born wife and partner, worked with him to blend French and South African perspectives into their wine production. They pursued dual projects in Vouvray in France and Swartland in South Africa. In France, they prioritized organic practices from the start and achieved full Ecocert certification in 2010. They till the soil using horses to preserve soil structure, manually harvest, use natural cover crops, and practice minimal intervention in the cellar. The couple also has a South African venture, Terre Brûlée, launched in 2013.
Domaíne Vincent Carême Vouvray Plaisir Ancestral 2021 is a tasty, vibrant chenin blanc pét nat sparkling made with organic methods and minimal intervention. Wonderfully creamy, rich mouthfeel. An ideal introduction to both chenin blanc (Vouvray in the Loire Valley) and to pét nat. Pairing—seafood is natural, classic; tuna steaks with sesame crust; seared scallops with lemon-brown butter sauce; oysters. White meats; chicken dishes with creamy sauces, chicken blanquette; roast pork with apples. Butternut squash soup made with coconut milk; almond-ricotta stuffed zucchini. Thai green curry; Sichuan peppercorn tofu. Easily works as an aperitif. Cheese—goat cheese; crottin de chavignol; brie de meaux (triple-crème cow’s milk); aged comtè; humboldt fog. Avoid fresh mozzarella, aged gouda, limburger. $26-30