2018 Sebastien Brunet "Renaissance" Vouvray Sec, Loire Valley, France

Product information

Sébastien Brunet is well-known as an introverted, softly-spoken oracle of information when it comes to the vines and land of Vouvray, having been born and brought up within the appellation.

The estate has been in the family for 6 generations, during which time it has grown from 3 to 15 hectares. Originally, Sebastien’s ancestors simply sold the fruit that they produced to the local cooperative. However, in the mid-1970s Sébastien’s father Michel inherited the vineyard and dedicated himself to producing wines solely from their own fruit.

Sebastien’s dry Vouvray is produced from a 2.5 hectare plot of 45 year old vines on clay and limestone soils. The grapes are hand-harvested from mid-September to mid-October before undergoing a spontaneous fermentation that lasts between 1-3 months in barrel and stainless steel with no temperature control.

The wine then spends 4-5 months of contact with its lees before an 8 month period ageing in barrels. The result is a wonderfully complex, mineral driven wine with a harmonious balance between chalky notes, floral touches, bright fruit and underlying lively tension.