Maison Foucher Cremant de Loire Brut Cuvee Des Roys de Naples, Loire, France

50% Chenin Blanc, 25% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Vineyards located in Montlouis-sur-Loire and Lissault-sur-Loire. 6300 plants per hectare. Moderate continental climate. Clay with silex and sand, over a bedrock of limestone “tuffe”. All hand harvested, and sorted in the vineyard and cellar. 100% de-stem. Alcoholic fermentation in temparature-controlled stainless tanks by parcel. No malolactic. Still wines are assembled and bottled in early spring. Second fermention occurs in bottle with “Methode Traditionelle” (or Methode Champenoise). 24 month elevage sur latte, which is two times longer than is required by appellation laws. Finished with moderate dosage of 8-9g/l. The Cremant de Loire ‘Cuvee des Roys de Naples’ non-vintage Brut bottling from Maison Foucher is composed of a blend of fifty percent chenin blanc and twenty-five percent each of chardonnay and pinot noir. The vins clairs do not undergo malo and the wine spends twenty-four months aging sur latte prior to disgorgement. The current release offers up a bright and nicely complex nose of lemon, quince, flinty minerality, a touch of bread dough and a topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is crisp, medium-full and nicely soil-driven, with a good core, frothy mousse and a long, bright and bouncy finish.

$19.99