# En Babillard (2023)

- **Producer:** Domaine Christinat
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Vaud, Switzerland
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €30
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–15 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, liquorice, rose, violet, herbaceous, cedar, vanilla, hay, dried cranberry

## About this wine

Domaine Christinat is a 6-hectare family estate located in Ollon and Aigle within the Chablais region of Vaud, Switzerland. Founded in 1989 by Olivier Christinat from family parcels, the estate welcomed his son Noé in 2017 after his oenology studies at Changins, initiating a shift toward low-intervention winemaking. The En Babillard cuvée represents a rare planting of Cabernet Franc in Chablais, grown on steep 500-meter south-east facing alpine slopes with gypsum-rich limestone moraine soils. The 2023 vintage marks the estate's official Bio Suisse organic certification.

## Interesting facts

- Planted on rare gypsum subsoils at 500m elevation in Chablais, where Cabernet Franc is highly uncommon.
- The 2023 vintage is the estate's first officially certified under the Bio Suisse organic label.
- Incorporates 50% whole-cluster maceration using stems that were dried in the sun prior to devatting.

## Food pairing

The freshness, vibrant acidity, and integrated tannins of this alpine Cabernet Franc pair exceptionally well with rich, savory meats, braised game, and rustic dishes. The wine's floral and herbaceous nuances complement herb-infused dishes and aged hard cheeses without overpowering delicate elements.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-harvested on steep terraced slopes. Vinification relies on spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts without added sulfites at harvest. Maceration lasts one month with pump-overs, incorporating 50% whole clusters with sun-dried stems. The wine is aged for 12 months in 400-liter oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered with minimal added sulfites.