Description
Now operating under the name Les Chemins de l'Arkose, Yvan Bernard has produced his second vintage of Fleuve Tranquille. This is a 100% Aligoté wine made from organic vines belonging to a few friends in Pernand-Vergelesses. This 100% Nature micro-cuvée is characterised by a finely honed tension and remarkable precision.
In the vineyard, in the cellar
Organic farming. No synthetic chemicals, plant-based treatments, adherence to the lunar calendar and a return to traditional soil cultivation are the main principles guiding work in the vineyards. Native yeasts.
Winemaker Yvan Bernard tells you about it
“Seeing what the vines have to offer: that’s what drives my work. Each plot produces a different cuvée. The eight hectares of my estate are spread across the communes of Montpeyroux, La Sauvetat, Authezat, Corent and Boudes. The entire estate switched to organic farming (certified by Ecocert) in 2010. No synthetic chemicals, plant-based treatments, adherence to the lunar calendar and a return to traditional soil cultivation are the main focuses in the vineyards. Respect for indigenous yeasts, and maceration and ageing tailored to each cuvée are the guiding principles in the cellar.”
Aligoté has come a long way
All too often relegated to the status of a wine for kir, it is nevertheless the 10th most widely planted white grape variety in the world […] Yet, behind the somewhat static image of Aligoté lies a surprising grape variety. In this Burgundy region so devoted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, how has Aligoté managed to reclaim its place? And shed its image as a cheap bar wine, a thirst-quencher drunk in the morning to ‘wet the whistle’? Moreover, isn’t it still too often served, much like in California, as a cheap alternative to Chardonnay? […] Could it then be to Chardonnay what Gamay is to Pinot Noir? Or what Sylvaner might be to Riesling? In its defence, it should be noted that it was often confined to the most mediocre terroirs (Source: Le Dico du Vin)
Fortunately, Aligoté’s reputation is on the rise again and wine lovers are flocking back to this grape variety. Some even claim that current climate change is working in its favour. The winemakers of Bouzeron have made it their star variety, and others across France are seeking to revive it. Take Yvan Bernard at Les Chemins de l’Arkose, for example.
What to eat with an Aligoté Fleuve Tranquille from Les Chemins de l'Arkose?
Shellfish and seafood. Grilled andouillette. Prawns à la plancha.
