Deboutbertin Ange ou Orange 2020

Deboutbertin Ange ou Orange 2020

Deboutbertin
$39.00

Grape: Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2020
Type: Orange

This lightly sparkling orange wine is crafted by Stéphanie and Vincent Deboutbertin from old chenin blanc vines in the Loire Valley. The forty-five-year-old vines are farmed organically on shallow soils that naturally restrict yields and lock in high acidity. The hand-harvested fruit undergoes a spontaneous skin fermentation driven entirely by native wild yeasts in old barriques. The wine rests for twelve months on its lees, utilizing gravity flow movements without mechanical pumps or sulfur additions.

It pours a hazy amber-gold color, releasing distinctive aromas of dried apricot, citrus peel, and fresh mountain wildflowers. On the palate, a medium-bodied frame balances stone fruit flavors with a gentle, tea-like tannin structure. A fine phenolic grip frames the mid-palate cleanly, balanced by a sharp beam of mineral acidity. Subtle notes of raw hazelnut and wild thyme add depth across the textured mouthfeel. It finishes completely bone-dry, leaving a mouthwatering trace of salinity.

Deboutbertin is a small-scale, natural wine producer. The winery is run by Stéphanie Debout and Vincent Bertin, who left their engineering careers to pursue winemaking. They focus on minimal intervention and a holistic approach to viticulture. They use agroforestry techniques, interplanting their vines with other trees and plants to create a healthier ecosystem and avoid monoculture. All vineyard work, including plowing, is done by their horse, Anatole, minimizing their carbon footprint. They primarily work with Chenin Blanc, Pineau d'Aunis, Grolleau, and Cabernet Franc.