Description
Founded in 1900 by Jules Falloux, Château de Passavant is located on the River Le Layon in Anjou. The estate is now run by the fourth and fifth generation of the Lecomte family to cultivate grapes and make wine there. Château de Passavant’s flagship wine, Ancestrale, Crémant de Loire is an homage to its roots as a farmstead winegrower and producer. The first bottle of sparkling wine in history was likely the result of an accident, based merely on the seasonal rhythms of a farm. Fermentation would spontaneously start in the fall, then the winter’s cold temperatures would set in and halt it. When temps rose in the spring, any residual sugars provided the resource for a second in-bottle fermentation.
A blend of 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay and 20% Cabernet Franc from estate vineyards in Haut-Layon (Anjou), vinified with indigenous yeasts. Instead of waiting for the winter’s cold temperatures, a controlled and planned chilling of the bottles halted the first fermentation, leaving some residual sugar in the bottle. After some time, as the ambient temperature rose, the secondary fermentation was initiated, trapping the CO2 in the bottle, giving the wine its natural effervescence. Most producers would stop there, but Passavant chooses to age theirs for an impressive 24 months on its lees (nine months longer than the minimum requirement in Champagne). They then disgorge the wine, creating a clear sparkler, rather than one with a cloudy appearance, and resulting in an especially polished méthode ancestrale. This elegant Pét-Nat has a fine, steady bead, the delicate aromatics open to flavors of white orchard fruit, citrus flesh and a hint of toasted brioche. Smooth and graceful with a lengthy, balanced finish.
