{"product_id":"patrick-bottex-bugey-cerdon-la-cueille-2024","title":"Patrick Bottex Bugey-Cerdon La Cueille 2024","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003ePatrick and Catherine Bottex have been farming vines in the hamlet of La Cueille, near Poncin in Bugey, since 1991. Their small domaine sits in the foothills between Savoie, the Jura and the Rhône, in a region whose vineyards remain relatively tiny compared with its better known neighbors. Today they farm about 6 hectares, with their son Carl also involved in the domaine. Unusually, the Bottex estate produces only Cerdon, making this wonderfully distinctive sparkling rosé the entire focus of their winemaking. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Cueille is planted to the two grapes traditionally associated with Cerdon: gamay and poulsard, with gamay making up the majority of the blend. The vines grow on steep, rocky limestone slopes above the Ain River. The Bottexes farm with an emphasis on protecting those fragile slopes: the vineyards are permanently grassed to reduce erosion, herbicides are avoided, pesticide use is kept to a minimum, and only natural organic fertilizers are used. The domaine is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale, and all harvesting is done by hand. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wine is made using the traditional méthode ancestrale, which is particularly important here because the bubbles come entirely from the wine's natural fermentation rather than from a second addition of sugar and yeast. After a short maceration to extract the characteristic pink color, the grapes are pressed and the juice begins a spontaneous fermentation in tank. While fermentation is still underway, the wine is bottled, where fermentation continues naturally and creates the fine carbonation. After roughly two months, the fermentation stops naturally; the wine is then filtered and definitively corked. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2024 La Cueille is a wonderfully light, juicy expression of Cerdon, with roughly 8% alcohol and a touch of sweetness balanced by lively acidity. Expect wild strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant, cherry and a little watermelon, with a delicate mousse rather than the more assertive bubbles of Champagne. It is the kind of wine that works equally well as an aperitif or alongside dessert, but its combination of low alcohol, bright acidity and gentle sweetness also makes it exceptionally easy to drink\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robins Cellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51601601888571,"sku":null,"price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/4991\/3915\/files\/PatrickBottexBugeyCerdonLaCueille2024.jpg?v=1787774104","url":"https:\/\/flightwineshop.com\/products\/patrick-bottex-bugey-cerdon-la-cueille-2024","provider":"Flight Wine Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}