Tasting Notes: Pale golden with reflections of harvest gold. Delicate flowers on the nose, white rose, just budding honeysuckle. Waft of citrus fruits adds to the delicately opulent aromas. Rich and perfumed palate. Soft flowers on its mineral background (clay-limestone soils), gentle citrus finish with mandarin caressing the palate. Can age 3-5 years or to drink now. An unexpected and surprising star of a white Burgundy wine.
“Like an early morning walk.”
Production Notes: 100% Sauvignon. Vines are 15-40 years old. Maceration followed by pneumatic pressing, static settling, vinification in temperature controlled vats. Winner (Silver) 2009 VIF 2011.
Pair With: Good on its own, as aperitif, on the sundeck or around the fireplace. Serve at 10°-12°C. With food, serve at 12-14°C and with Burgundy escargots, seafood, shellfish, butter and provençal herb flashfried shrimp, warm goat cheese salad, lemon tart, white cheeses.
The wine estate, Domaine Félix et Fils has been making wines since 1690, according to their genealogical archives. If records went back far enough, they are convinced, however, that it would show they’ve been making wines since the Roman times.
The Burgundy village, Saint Bris Le Vineux, where this 31 hectare wine estate is located, sits right at the point where the legacy appellations of AOC Saint-Bris, Chablis, Bourgogne Aligoté, Bourgogne Côte d’Auxerre (Blanc, Rosé and Rouge) and Irancy meet. Saint-Bris is the 100th appellation village of Burgundy and the only one that is allowed to grow Sauvignon.
Saint Bris Le Vineux, where Domaine Félix et Fils has the majority of their 31 hectares, rests 8 km south of Auxerre and 16 km west of Chablis. Their current production is at 160,000 bottles per year, with a potential for growth of another 60,000 bottles. Their market is both domestic and export.
The clay-limestone soils and their perfect sun orientation are optimal growing conditions for their Sauvignon, Aligoté, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to allow for their fullest expressions in the appellations that the Domain covers: Saint-Bris, Bourgogne Aligoté, Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre, Chablis and Irancy.
Domaine Félix et Fils likes to be both dynamic and embrace certain modern trends while keeping with their long-held traditions. They practice integrated vineyard management, parcel by parcel. For their reds that are 100% Pinot Noir they practice traditional vinification and 100% new oak barrel aging.
Domaine-felix.com Saint-Bris-Le-Vineux, Burgundy, France
Chérie Du Vin 