Domaine Baron >
Loire >
France|
Jean-Pierre Baron is a master of Sauvignon Blanc, and he has put his expertise to good use when creating this remarkable Sauvignon de Touraine. Baron owns a 13 hectare family domain in the village of Thesee, on the right bank of the Cher river.
Beginning in 1946, Baron’s father was among the first to plant Sauvignon Blanc grapes in this region which is now recognized as Appellation Touraine Controle. Baron has decided to leave the local coop and begin estate bottling with the 1998 vintage; a new Loire star is born!
Baron’s vineyard has a clay-limestone-silex soil and the vines average 25 years old. He prunes severely in the fall to limit yields and uses a sophisticated program of “lutte raisonnee” in respect of the environment to fight vine diseases and parasites. The goal is to grow the healthiest fruit possible at moderate yields. By 2012 the vineyard will be certified Organic. Instead of using herbicides, the topsoil is lightly tilled so as to remove weeds without disturbing the sub-soil. The grapes are gently pressed and lightly clarified (debourbage). Fermentation takes place in tanks and the wine is left on the lees until February before racking and bottling in April. Baron’s Sauvignon is then aged for 6 months in bottle before release. |
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| Touraine Sauvignon Blanc |
Baron’s Sauvignon has fine concentration, a lovely citrus bouquet and a plump palate. It is a ripe, crisp wine with unmistakable Loire character and is the equal of many Sancerres in the market, and a far better value.
This wine is perfect for casual enjoyment, as an aperitif, or with a wide range of seafood, fish and white meats.
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| Touraine Cot |
The Barons also cultivate one hectare of 35 year-old Cot (the local name for Malbec) vines planted on a south facing gentle slope with a well drained, limestone-clay soil. This vineyard was planted to Cot before phylloxera. It was later replanted with other varieties and then re-converted to Cot by Jean-Pierre Baron in an effort to revive the cultivation of Malbec that was very common in the Touraine region in times past. The vines are all selection massale plants (and not clones) selected from a nearby 50 year old, ideal Cot vineyard. Baron farms in a sustainable way, according to the standards of the Terra Vitis protocol. Grass is planted between the rows and plowed under below the vines. Baron harvests at full maturity in early October. The grapes are all de-stemmed and given an 8-day maceration period at 20 degrees C. Baron carries out only one pumping over operation (remontage) every two days to attain sufficient extraction without over concentrating the wine. He racks the wine early so that the alcoholic fermentation finishes without the presence of solids that would otherwise impart an astringent element to the wine. Baron adds less than 20% of press-wine to the final blend since the “jus de goutte” already has excellent color and richness. Aging continues in large tanks and Baron bottles his Cot in early July so as to preserve the primary fruit and aromas. The wine is aged another 6 months in bottle before release. Baron’s Cot is a deeply saturated, dark purple wine with juicy and spicy black cherry and kirsch flavors and characteristic Loire freshness and succulence.
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