Sébastien Riffault Akmèniné 2019
£28.04 (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / North Ireland
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
13.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 8ºC and 10ºC
Winemaking
Fermented with indigenous yeasts and completed malolactic fermentation. Aged for 24 months in old oak barrels.
Description
In Sancerre, home to some of the most elegant Sauvignon Blancs in the world, Sébastien Riffault does things his own way. And what a way it is. If you are expecting a typical, fresh and sharp white, be prepared for a surprise. Sébastien Riffault Akmèniné is an unconventional Sauvignon Blanc, a wild and deeply expressive twist that defies the appellation's standards.
Winemaking
Grown in vineyards over 30 years old, where the vines grow on clay and limestone soils, Sébastien Riffault Akmènininé is harvested late, allowing a portion of the grapes to develop botrytis. This is key: this point of over-ripeness brings a complexity and texture that few Sauvignon Blancs can boast. Fermentation takes place spontaneously, with indigenous yeasts, and the wine rests for 24 months on its lees in used French oak barrels. No fining or filtration. No sulphites. Just grapes, time and patience.
The pressing is done gently and progressively to extract only the purest must, without forcing the most aggressive compounds from the skins. During ageing, the wine is kept in contact with its fine lees, with occasional bâtonnage to enhance its structure and complexity. It is bottled without filtration, which preserves its natural character and its evolution in the bottle.
Taste
Visually, Sébastien Riffault Akmèniné already gives clues that something different is going on here. Its deep golden, almost amber colour is more reminiscent of an orange wine than a traditional white. The nose is a whirlwind of sensations: ripe fruit, honey, candied citrus and a touch of smoke. It's like opening a jar of peaches in syrup and discovering a pinch of sea salt inside.
On the palate, Sébastien Riffault Akmèniné is pure texture. Unctuous but vibrant, with an acidity that sustains every sip and a mineral and saline finish that doesn't seem to want to go away. It is not a wine for all tastes, but for thrill seekers, this bottle is a direct ticket to another dimension of Sauvignon Blanc.
Shipping to North Ireland
50% discount on orders over £344.01Estimated transit time: 4-5 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over £344.01 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | £11.09 | £5.55 (-£5.55) |
| 7-12 | £15.05 | £7.53 (-£7.53) |
| 13-18 | £21.07 | £10.54 (-£10.54) |
| 19-24 | £28.81 | £14.41 (-£14.41) |
| 25-30 | £33.45 | £16.73 (-£16.73) |
| 31-36 | £37.41 | £18.71 (-£18.71) |
| 37-42 | £45.15 | £22.58 (-£22.58) |
| 43-48 | £49.45 | £24.73 (-£24.73) |
| 49-54 | £55.86 | £27.93 (-£27.93) |
| 55-60 | £60.03 | £30.01 (-£30.01) |
| VAT included | ||
Appellation Map
