Villa Noria, ‘Basic Instinct’ Blanc Sans Sulfites

A full-flavoured and aromatic naturally-made wine with appealing notes of white flowers, citrus, exotic fruit and crisp green apple with mineral, funky undertones and a delicious, clean finish.

Producer Note

Villa Noria is the story of two wine enthusiasts, Fabien Gross and Cédric Arnaud, who both grew up in viticultural regions-Languedoc and Alsace-surrounded by vineyards and winemaking heritage and is the result of overflowing enthusiasm, ethics and values. The inheritance left to its owners by their winemaking ancestors, was passion and respect for the land. Located a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea, between Pézenas and Montagnac, Villa Noria produces elegant organic wines, in perfect harmony with nature and the terroir. The winemaking is traditional, without chemical additions and only low doses of sulphur are used. Their natural ranges

‘Amfòra’ and ‘Basic Instinct’ are vinified without the addition of sulphur.

Vintage

2021 was an extremely challenging vintage across France. After a warm start to the spring, which brought the vines along, a sudden severe frost hit vineyards during the second week in April, damaging the buds and significantly reducing yields throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon region. While the production was significantly reduced, the remaining fruit produced juice of excellent quality.

Vineyard

Both the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are grown in vineyards in the Languedoc Roussillon, where the Mediterranean climate with its hot, dry summers and mild winters, provides optimal conditions for premium viticulture. The vines are grown on claylimestone soils, which provide the perfect balance of water retention from the clay component, to hydrate the vines through the summers, with the draining properties of the limestone, which also imparts elegance to the wine. The Chardonnay vineyard is situated at the base of a volcanic hillsides, which influences the wine with natural, fresh minerality. The grapes are harvested at night, to harvest cool grapes in order to maximise the freshness. The wine is classified as Vin de France, to allow stylistic freedom.

Winemaking

The wine was made with minimal intervention and without the addition of sulphites. The carefully selected grapes were received into the winery via gravity and immediately pressed to extract the juice. Fermentation took place with natural, wild yeasts present on the grape’s skin, at low temperatures of 16 to 18°C. Vinification took place in neutral concrete tanks to allow the purity of fruit and the wine’s natural characteristics to shine through. The wine was aged on its fine lees to impart texture until bottling.

Tasting Note

A full-flavoured and aromatic naturally-made wine with appealing notes of white flowers, citrus flavours, exotic fruit and crisp green apple. Beautifully balanced, the fruit is layered with funky, mineral undertones through to a precise finish.

Grape

Chardonnay 80%, Sauvignon Blanc 20%