Château de Piote Perles de Piote Cremant de Bordeaux [Organic & Biodynamic] NV

Château de Piote Perles de Piote Cremant de Bordeaux is a quite rich and luxurious style of Crémant with baking spices, baked apple and stone fruit, the Colombard adding lift and acidity, all topped off with a dash of savoury salinity. Small fine bubbles lend a creamy, mousse-like texture. The Aubrion family have run this small Right Bank estate since '98, when Virginie Aubrion and her family took over the delapidated farmhouse and surrounding land. Indomitable and determined matriarch Virginie, has always been the winemaker here and now shares the work of running the estate with her son Corentin, with other family members chipping in as and when they can. Their aim has always been to return their home to its original state as a farm and their commitment to biodiversity is very much enhanced by their menagerie of sheep, pigs, chickens, horses, donkeys and ducks - their favourite Michele appearing on the labels of their cuvée des Potes range. The wines are hand-made and artisanal and sit on the "natural" side of the fence, but still very proper and crafted rather than "funky". They are true lovers of the land, with the esate being farmed organically well before it become trendy in Bordeaux and certified biodynamic with Demeter since '13.