La Productrice
Passionate about vines and wine, Raphaëlle Guyot decides to settle in her native region, Puisaye-Forterre, located at the edge of Burgundy, halfway between Sancerre and Chablis. In 2018, she takes over a fallow plot and then, in 2019, one hectare of vines, driven by an ambitious project: to revive a disappeared vineyard and replant the hillsides that were once cultivated with vines. In parallel, she acquires at the end of 2019 the Ferme de l’Orme du Pont in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Loing, in the heart of 75 hectares of agricultural land surrounding the 19th-century buildings; a place intended to become the center of operation and cultivation of the estate.
The vineyards of the estate extend in Puisaye-Forterre (appellation Vin de Pays de l’Yonne), on south/southeast facing limestone slopes, a legacy of an ancient winemaking past before phylloxera. Approximately 1.5 hectares are currently in production, with several distinct plots such as Les Robinettes (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and Les Hâtes (Pinot Noir), planted at high densities of up to 10,000 vines per hectare. The clay-limestone soils, complemented by agricultural practices that promote biodiversity — such as cover crops and tree planting — help to limit soil disturbance and enhance the vigor and autonomy of the vines in the face of climate change.
Today, Raphaëlle cultivates these plots according to organic farming principles, with planting densities designed to optimize grape quality and plant resilience. The first Chardonnay plantings started in April 2020 are producing their first cuvées, and other land is being prepared for future plantings. The estate relies on both its own vineyards and a careful vision of the local wine landscape to create wines that reflect the unique identity of Puisaye-Forterre.
The Wine
The grapes are pressed directly and fermented with indigenous yeasts, followed by 12 months of aging in barrels, with just a minimum of SO2 added at bottling.
Tasting
Herbaceous (dill) and lemony nose. The palate is light while maintaining a certain straightness and a beautiful finish on citrus and superb bitterness.