Vouette et Sorbee Textures NV R19

(R19, disgorged Nov 2021). 

Textures is a rare, 100% Pinot Blanc Champagne crafted from vines in the Fonnet vineyard (planted between 1995 and 2000). Gautherot describes it as his “easiest” wine, referring to it being the easiest one to drink young. There is certainly more fleshy texture (hence the name), more fruit, and an easier-going persona than found in his Blanc d’Argile. There is also plenty of intensity, complexity and fabulous poise. 

The grapes were fermented and raised in large, buried Georgian amphora and used oak barrels, as well as a couple of Italian dolia, for roughly nine months before blending. The bulbous-shaped amphora (crafted by the last Georgian family specialising in this particular shape) affords Gautherot the kind of lees contact and minimal oxidation he is looking for. A portion of the fruit was also fermented and macerated on skins. After blending, the wine then spent roughly 18 months on lees in bottle. Sadly, this cuvée is no longer being produced as the vineyard that supplied this wine has been taken back by Bertrand's brother, so this will be one of the final releases—cherish it while you can!