Michel Redde & Fils : Barre à Mine 2023

Characteristics and tasting advice for Barre à Mine 2023 by Michel Redde & Fils

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a pale gold hue, subtly enhanced by green highlights, reflecting beautiful purity.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet is complex and layered. It opens with notes of ripe citrus such as grapefruit and lime, accompanied by white fruits like peach and green apple. A pronounced minerality marked by flint and crushed stone intertwines with delicate floral touches of acacia and honeysuckle, along with subtle herbal nuances.

Palate

Structured and precise, the palate offers fine tension thanks to vibrant acidity perfectly balanced by the fruit substance. Flavors of lemon cream, grapefruit, and pear unfold elegantly. The mid-palate reveals saline and smoky notes, leading to a persistent, mineral, and citrus-driven finish.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine pairs beautifully with seafood, particularly fresh oysters, scallops, or crab. It also enhances white fish, roasted lobster with spices, as well as poultry dishes accompanied by a citrus or fresh herb sauce.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate Barre à Mine 2023, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Decanting is strongly advised to allow it to खुल up. This wine has remarkable aging potential and can evolve in the cellar until around 2040.

The singular minerality of a Pouilly-Fumé wine by Michel Redde & Fils

The estate

Although the family’s winemaking history dates back to 1630, the Michel Redde & Fils estate was truly established in the early 1950s by Michel Redde. Located in Saint-Andelain in France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, the estate now spans around forty hectares. Currently managed by Sébastien and Romain Redde, the estate stands out for its meticulous parcel-based approach and its commitment to producing authentic wines that reflect the diversity of the terroirs with minimal intervention in the cellar.

The vineyard

From the Pouilly-Fumé appellation, the 4.5-hectare parcel that gives rise to this cuvée is located in the commune of Tracy-sur-Loire. This unique terroir is a former red flint quarry from the Albian period. Planted in 2009 using a crowbar due to the extreme hardness of the rocky soil, the vines benefit from a southwest exposure on a steep slope. The planting density is particularly high, reaching 10,000 vines per hectare on soils composed of flint and kaolinite clay.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by a summer season of intense heat. Nevertheless, the overall growing cycle proved cooler than in previous vintages, allowing the berries to retain excellent freshness and achieve optimal balance at harvest.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Barre à Mine 2023 are harvested by hand in small wooden crates. Alcoholic fermentation takes place under controlled temperatures between 18 and 20°C. Aging then continues for 14 to 16 months in oak vats and 500-liter demi-muids, on fine lees, thereby adding complexity and richness to the wine’s structure.

Grape variety

100% sauvignon blanc