Domaine des Liards: Montlouis-sur-Loire Mousseux Brut

Citric aromas and yeasty undertones precede a palate of sweet orchard fruit. The wine displays a lively mousse and a clean, off-dry finish.

Style: White Wine, Dry (Sec), Light-bodied, Sparkling
Region: Loire, Montlouis
Producer: Michel & Laurent Berger
Grape variety (Cépage): Chenin Blanc
Cellarage: Can happily age for up to 3 years although will be ready to drink from release.
Vinification: Hand harvested fruit is pressed and fermented to produce a still wine. This is then vinified in the Traditional Method (formerly known as Champenois which is now reserved exclusively for wines made in the Champagne region). A mixture of yeasts and sugar, known as liqueur de triage, is added to the still wine in the bottle (which is then sealed with a crown cap) to induce a secondary fermentation the by-product of which is carbon dioxide which gives the wine its mousse or 'sparkle'. Modern gyropallettes are used to tilt and turn the bottles (a process known as remuage) to collect deposits of yeast on the bottle closure. The neck of the bottle is then frozen in brine solution and these deposits are removed (known as dégorgement) before the bottles are topped up and sealed with a proper flared cork. Wine from more than one vintage can be blended to give consistency so no vintage is declared.
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 12.5%