# Le P'tit Blanc (2022)

- **Producer:** Domaine des Sablonnettes
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chenin Blanc
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** pear, apple, orange, apricot, citrus, blossom, white pepper, herbaceous, honey, almond

## About this wine

Domaine des Sablonnettes, run by Christine and Joel Menard (now with their son Jeremy), is a Loire Valley estate renowned for its commitment to biodynamic farming and natural winemaking. Their "Le P'tit Blanc" is a vibrant expression of Chenin Blanc from the Anjou sub-region, celebrated as one of the "OG" natural wines. This wine embodies a philosophy of minimal intervention, resulting in a pure, playful, and fragrant wine that can be enjoyed without pretense. It's a sought-after, allocated wine, reflecting the Menards' dedication to producing "vibrantly alive" wines that truly speak of their schist soils and three decades of biodynamic practice.

## Interesting facts

- It's considered one of the 'OG' (Original Gangster) natural wines, pioneering the style.
- The producer, Domaine des Sablonnettes, has practiced biodynamic farming for over three decades.
- This wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfur, showcasing true natural winemaking.
- A week of partial skin contact for this white wine helps nourish yeasts and ensures a dry finish.

## Food pairing

The brisk acidity and medium body of Le P'tit Blanc make it an excellent partner for dishes that benefit from a refreshing counterpoint. Its bright fruit and subtle savory notes complement creamy cheeses and the tang of pickled vegetables. The wine's natural character and slight fizz also make it versatile with lighter proteins, especially those prepared with citrus or herbs, enhancing the overall freshness of the meal.

## Wine making process

The Chenin Blanc grapes for Le P'tit Blanc are sourced from 30-year-old vines grown on schist soils, cultivated biodynamically without the use of chemicals. Grapes are hand-harvested to ensure quality. In the cellar, the wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel or epoxy tanks. A unique aspect of its vinification includes about a week of partial skin contact, which helps nourish the yeasts and ensures a dry wine, with one source specifying a majority pressed with 10% macerated Chenin. The wine is then aged on fine lees in epoxy tanks, remaining unoaked. Crucially, it is bottled without fining or filtration and with zero added sulfur, preserving its natural character and slight cloudiness.