NV Val de Mer, Brut Non Dosé Sparkling, Burgundy, France

Producer: Patrick Piuze came to Burgundy from Montreal in 2000, worked for some big names in the area before founding his own winery in 2008. He works with growers in Chablis, expressing the diversity of the vineyards there. In 2010 he partnered with Francois Moutard of Moutard-Diligent, creating the Val de Mer project. Patrick is making wines from the estate plots as well as purchasing fruit from his Chablis growers.

Place: Tonnerre is located about 10 miles from Chablis in the Burgundy region of France.

Farming: sustainable/lutte raisonnée

Varietal: Chardonnay from estate vineyards around Tonnerre.

Soil: Limestone, Clay

Winemaking: hand harvested using the traditional method – fermentation in stainless steel, 9 months of lees aging in bottle before being disgorged, no dosage is added.

Tasting Notes: Mineral Driven – Bright – Crisp – Bone Dry