This Wine Wednesday, I am focused on another Crémant de Bourgogne. This one is from the Veuve Ambal winery and is called Domaine de la Grande Côte Brut NV. It was a wonderful version of Crémant de Bourgogne made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyards that produce this fruit are located in the Auxerrois, near Chablis.
The wine has loads of minerality, salinity, and racy acidity. Aromas and flavors of apples and pears with white flowers, a hint of yeast and brioche, nutty smoke on the finish. Lively, fine bubbles with a frothy perlage, complete this nuanced wine. I had it with Swordfish and Dijon mustard sauce.
Crémant seems to be my go-to-wine from all eight areas of France where they can be made. I bought mine at Astor Wine and Spirits. The company that makes this wine is called Veuve Ambal.
Apparently the company is the largest producer of Crémant de Bourgogne. A family run company begun in 1898, they have over 100 years of experience with these wines.
The winery was founded in Rully by Marie Ambal. Eric Piffaut and his son Aurélien now run the winery and are the sixth generation to do so. They farm sustainably and follow minimal intervention rules. They have 250 hectares in Burgundy spread over six terroirs.
This wine comes from the Domaine Marie Ambal. The soils here are hard limestone. This terroir is 35 hectares and is planted mostly to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a touch of Aligote. It is in the Châtillonais area, close to Champagne, in the far North of Burgundy. The area has been inhabited for centuries. Monks from the local abbey appreciated the soils in this area already centuries earlier.
For more information on Crémant wines, I’ve written a number of pieces in the past few weeks on these wines:
avvinare.com 