SEBASTIAN RIFFAULT
Sancerre, France
Winemaker: Sébastien Riffault
Size: 12 hectares
Varieties of grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
Riffault winery has been radically transformed from a former conventional estate to one of the most progressive biodynamic estates in Sancerre.
Sébastien knows what he is doing, he admits that the needs of the vine vary from vineyard to vineyard and he does his best to take them into account.
His methods are almost primal. He never replants his vineyards, but rather constantly renews them, so that the vines vary in age.
He rarely goes to the vineyards with a tractor, ploughing with a horse, in April-May rather than in the autumn.
Of course, he harvests by hand, which is not as common in Sancerre as you might think.
Depending on the vintage, the vineyard lots are made from 20% to 40% botrytised grapes (we are talking about dry wines), which gives the wine amazing depth and complexity.
All this is made exciting and firm by a powerful yet delicate acidity.