Region: Loire Valley, France
Appellation: Coteaux du Loire
Color/Style: Red Wine
Grapes: Pineau d'Aunis

100% Pineau d'Aunis. Rouge Gorge ("red throat") is named in honor of the robins which inhabit the vineyards. The Pineau d'Aunis vines are scattered amongst many Bellivière parcels and range in age from 25 to 45 years old. The soils are generally flinty clay over tuffeau (soft limestone); the vines are kept to a maximum yield of 25 hl/ha. The Nicolas family farms biodynamically and harvests by hand. The grapes are destemmed, crushed and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in old barrels. Macerations lasts up to a month, with occasional punchdowns and with each parcel vinified separately. The wines are aged in used barrel for 12 to 18 months, before blending and bottling without fining or filtering