Saint-Bris Sauvignon Athénaïs de Béru 2020 (White)

The Béru vineyard, nestled in the heart of the Chablis region, traces its roots back to the 13th century. The estate includes prestigious parcels in the Chablis and Chablis Premier Cru appellations, including the splendid Clos Béru. Bounded by ancient walls and spanning five hectares, this exceptional plot, solely dedicated to the cultivation of Chardonnay grapes, flourishes in a unique terroir characterised by clay-limestone soil and fossilised oyster shells. Positioned on the southern slope of a hill at an altitude of 300 metres, it benefits from an incredible microclimate. 2005 marked a pivotal moment for Athénais de Béru, previously working in finance, as she made the life-changing decision to embrace her family’s heritage and chose to reclaim her ancestors’ land. Through a fortuitous coincidence or perhaps a twist of fate, the vineyard became available as the tenant who had leased her father’s land retired prematurely, 20 years ahead of schedule, enabling her to take over the property. When she arrived in Chablis, Athénais, fuelled by her passion for fine wines, found herself a complete novice in terms of technical expertise. As a Parisian who had never worked the land, she faced a daunting challenge. Yet, undeterred and armed with insatiable curiosity, she embarked on a journey of experimentation, trial and error, adaptation, and learning from fellow winemakers. She sought guidance from others, undertook internships at different estates. Eventually, through perseverance and guided by both the wisdom of others and her own instincts, she eventually achieved her goals. Well aware of the exceptional terroir she has the privilege to own, Athénais endeavours to elevate its character while preserving its natural expression. To accomplish this, the estate operates without the use of additives. The vines are trained and pruned using the double Guyot method, encouraging natural competition between plants, limiting yields while promoting an ideal distribution of leaf coverage. The vines are meticulously hand-harvested, ensuring the utmost respect for the berries. In the winery, the winemaker uses native yeasts, allowing the grapes to express their singularity, without resorting to any fining or filtration techniques. Sulphur is sparingly used, if at all. To her, the sulphur-free final product represents the rewarding result of diligent work in the vineyard, although she maintains the freedom to intervene in the winemaking process when necessary.

Athénaïs de Béru est une des figures incontournables du vignoble chablisien dont le vignoble remonte ses origines au 13ème siècle. Celle-ci dispose de vignes qui s’étendent au sein des appellations Chablis et Chablis Premier Cru. Elle nous propose toutefois ici un vin de France qui promet de vous surprendre. Celui-ci est effectivement réalisé à partir de sauvignon gris cultivé au sein du village de Saint-Bris, situé entre 210 et 250 mètres d’altitude. Les vignes ont été incitées à puiser les nutriments nécessaires à leur épanouissement dans des sols composés d’argile et de calcaire du Kimmeridgien. Et ce, grâce à des méthodes de culture respectueuses de l’environnement, bio et biodynamiques.
En cave, la vinification se traduit par une macération des baies qui oscille entre 12 et 24 heures dans un pressoir. La récolte entière est pressée avec délicatesse dans un pressoir pneumatique. La fermentation alcoolique enclenchée par les levures indigènes se fait sous bois et le vin mature pendant un an dans des pièces bourguignonnes usagées.

Consult price estimate for: Château de Béru