Lifted aromatics of peach and spice, a crackle of volcanic minerality, gripping tannins, dried fruits, membrillo-esque quince and creamy malolactic notes. Find out more.
About the Wine
Pinot Noir from the Auvergne that is nimble and expressive with incredible purity of flavour. The wine comes from two parcels of vines at varying elevations both planted over the same iron-rich volcanic soils. Two months of whole bunch maceration are followed by two and a half years in 1000ltr stoneware jars and old barrels.
Fred’s Pinot Noir is perhaps the most well-known wine from the estate. The 2021 is a vintage that is drinking very well in its (relative) youth, but as ever will have a long life ahead in the cellar. There are earthy, savoury Pinot varietal notes, with some lovely dusty tannins and that sanguine smack of Auvergnat smoke and salt to finish.
About L'Arbre Blanc
The Gounan family has been in Saint Sandoux for generations. Fred's father had apple orchards as many people in the area once did. Sadly these orchards have now been replaced with the ubiquitous wheat and so have most of the vineyards. Fred and Caroline's two small plots of Pinot Noir stand alone on the basaltic western slope of the valley in whose trough runs the A75 opposite the hill of Corent (home of Patrick Bouju and François Dhumes). Off to the north Fred points out a patch of vines that his neighbour has left to run wild, next to that he shows us some Pinot Gris and Sauvignon that he planted in 2010. The two plots of Pinot Noir, one higher and one lower, are both planted en lyre, a system that enhances leaf and fruit exposure to the sun (much needed in the moderate climate of the Auvergne) and, as Fred assures, acts as a cosmic funnel. The funneling seems to work, Fred's vines are beautiful and the ground around them rich with other plant life - testament to his and Caroline's work.
More from L'Arbre Blanc
£64
Quantity
£66
