[B321] SEBASTIEN RIFFAULT SANCERRE AKMENINE 2019 1500ml

Akmèniné means 'stone-filled' or 'stony' in Lithuanian, the native language of Sébastien’s wife, a name derived from the striking vineyard plot blanketed with scattered chunks of limestone.

Sharing the same soil type as Auksinis, the vines grow in the argilo-calcaire (clay-limestone) soils locally known as caillottes. This cuvée utilizes Sauvignon Blanc from old vines (Vieilles Vignes) over 30 years of age, planted across a parcel of approximately three hectares.

While Auksinis features a highly unconventional botrytis ratio of 50% to 100%, Akmèniné is harvested with a base of fully ripe grapes blended with about 20% to 30% botrytized fruit. This approach strikes a magnificent balance, maintaining Sauvignon Blanc’s inherently clean, delicate acidity and fresh fruit character while still showcasing Riffault’s signature complexity and rich, honeyed depth.

The vinification process mirrors that of Auksinis: after pressing, the juice is crafted with zero sulfur additions, undergoing a slow fermentation and aging in stainless steel tanks for 24 months before being transferred to old oak barrels for an additional 10 to 12 months of sur-lie élevage. Ultimately, it is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and entirely sans soufre (with no SO2 added).

Upon initial release, the wine displays a hazy, near-amber golden hue resulting from the lack of filtration and gentle oxidative aging, though it gains clarity with bottle age. That said, because sediment naturally settles at the bottom of the bottle, the wine will gradually become cloudy toward the second half and the final pours.

The bouquet reveals notes of pear, marmalade, and osmanthus, intertwined with subtle hints of smokiness and gunflint. On the palate, a lustrous and generous wave of pure extract expands, while a backbone of vibrant, clean acidity beautifully pulls the entire wine together.

Unlike any Sancerre you have tasted before, but by far the best. A meditative, opulent wine also has an underlying mineral nerve that roots it firmly in the chalky hills of Sancerre". (from NATURAL WINE / Isabelle Legeron MW)

>>>Read more stories at the News Archive