Henri Chauvet, A l’aube

Grapes:  Gamay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay (Gamay from the highest plot (550m))

Region: Auvergne, France 

Vintage: 2021

Viticulture: Organic 

Soils: Volcanic

Sulfur: None 

Notes from the Importer: 

Plots:Chamaret – 2.4 ha, bottom of the valley, red clay and quartz. “More Beaujolais than Auvergne” Donazat – bottom of the valley, red clay with limestone outcroppings, decomposed granite Baconnet – 1.7 ha, historic site, the steepest slopes, lava flow
Côte et de la Bavotte – historic site, steep slopes, basalt
Quaire – currently rehabilitating

The Farming: The property is currently undergoing organic conversion. Lulu the horse helps with soil management. Mechanical work is difficult given the gradient of the hillsides. The majority of the vines are guyot poussard pruned. Henri’s first harvest in 2021 was long, starting late Septemberthrough the beginning of November. Harvest in 2022 was much earlier and shorter, the end of August to the end of September.

The Winemaking: All wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, unfined, and unfiltered. Each plot and each variety vinified separately. All wines are whole bunch and aged in barrel for one year. Sulfur use varies wine to wine, depending on what Henri feels is necessary. In 2021 minimal sulfur was added to several cuvées, in 2022 he used no sulfur. Production in 2021 was around 25,000 bottles.