Joseph Mellot Sancerre La Rabault Rosé

Description

Joseph Mellot Sancerre La Rabault Rosé is a dry rosé wine from the Loire Valley. While Sancerre is most famous for its crisp Sauvignon Blanc whites (about 80% of production), Sancerre rosé is made exclusively from 100% Pinot Noir grapes.

Domaine Joseph Mellot: Established 1513

Domaine Joseph Mellot was established in 1513 by Pierre Etienne Mellot and remains in the Mellot family to this day. The estate is currently under the stewardship of Catherine Corbeau Mellot, who found herself in the role after the tragic death of her husband, Alexandre Mellot, in 2005. Domaine Joseph Mellot is one of the most historic wine companies in the Loire, certainly one of the most prestigious and has been key in developing vino-tourism in the region. As well as vineyards in Sancerre, they also have vineyards in Quincy, Reuilly, Pouilly Fume and Menetou Salon, amongst others. In fact, they produce wines from all 8 of the Central Loire’s AOCs.

Sancerre: A Sauvignon Blanc Dominated Appellation

The Sancerre wine-growing region has a long history, with evidence of its existence dating back to ancient times. The region saw significant growth in the 12th century due to the efforts of the local monks and nobility. Initially, the vineyards were dominated by Pinot Noir, but the devastating outbreak of Phylloxera in the 19th century wiped out the vineyards. In time, more and more Sauvignon Blanc was planted as it was found to be a grape variety well-suited to Sancerre’s climate and terroir. It would go on to become the star of the region’s most renowned appellation in the Central Loire.

Joseph Mellot Sancerre La Rabault Rosé Vineyards and Winemaking

• The 100% Pinot Noir grapes for the Joseph Mellot Sancerre La Rabault Rosé come from vineyards grown on Clay-limestone and flint-rich soils.
• The vineyard area is 8 hectares and the average age of the vines is 20 years. The winery practices sustainable farming or “culture raisonnée”.
• The grapes are mechanically harvested
• The grapes are sorted and de-stemmed before being pressed immediately on arrival at the winery.
• The juice is cold-settled and then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
• A final ageing (Élevage) also takes place in stainless steel tanks

Mellot & Sustainability

The winery practices sustainable farming or “culture raisonnée”. Joseph Mellot was the first domain in the Central Loire Valley to obtain ISO 14001 certification and BRC A accreditation. Today all of its vineyards are cultivated according to the principles of sustainable agriculture.