Claude Riffault, not the usual Loire Valley wines.At just 30 years old, Stéphane Riffault (son of Claude Riffault and now owner of the company) is bringing out Sancerre that are the envy of many producers who are twice his age.
Given that Stephane's particles represent only 4 tenths of 1% of the denomination, this boy is clearly doing something right.
Based in the village of Sury-en-Vaux, Stéphane Riffault (son of Claude who gave the Domaine its name) works 33 different plots in 8 different lieu-dits scattered in 4 villages.
No synthetic material is used in its vineyards and since 2017 Riffault's wines have been certified organic by ECOCERT and biodynamic by BIODYVIN.
Unlike most producers in Sancerre, the entire harvest is carried out by hand and a large selection is made before the grapes are crushed. Stéphane's wife Benedicte leads the harvesting team, while Stéphane manages the sorting and pressing during the harvest.
Most of the vineyards of the domaine are planted on the soft calcareous soil called terres blanches with some plots on calliottes and silica.
Small and judicious uses of oak help to add length to the already precise, expressive, territorial and vertical bottles of this boy.
All the plots are vinified separately and, with the exception of the rosé and all the wines are bottled unfiltered.
Having studied and worked in Burgundy (and in close contact with Olivier Leflaive), it is easy to see the Burgundy influence in Stéphane's wines: the mastery of minerality and wood is rarely duplicated in Sancerre.
Regardless of the exposure of its plots (many are south-facing), Riffault's wines are always crisp and high quality, the result of the dedication and attention these wines receive.
Not the Sancerre of his father, Claude Riffault, we are dealing with French organic wines of the highest level.
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