Wine Making
The grapes, carefully harvested by our pickers, are quickly transferred into vats and cooled in our temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. This cold maceration, maintained for two days, allows us to preserve the fruit’s qualities and aromas for as long as possible. No sulfites are added at this stage.
We then gradually warm the tanks so that the must begins fermentation thanks to indigenous yeasts. Throughout the fermentation phase, temperature control is essential to ensure that the quality of the grapes is preserved until the transformation of the fruit into wine is complete.
Once fermentation is finished, it is time for pressing, usually around mid-November. Our horizontal press allows for a slow yet powerful pressing process in order to extract the best from the grape skins and seeds, which will give the wine its tannic structure.
After the cold of winter comes the time for blending, carefully considered so that each cuvée expresses its own distinctive character.
Le Petit Manoir is aged for one year in terracotta jars in order to preserve the purity of its fruit and the delicacy of its tannins. Domaine de la Voie Blanche was the third estate in France to adopt this type of ageing as early as 2009. Les Joualles, made with zero added sulfites, remains in stainless-steel tanks for nine months.
Le Petit Manoir :
Produced from the same terroir as Les Joualles, but from the plot that reaches ripeness first, Le Petit Manoir is aged for one year in terracotta jars specially designed for wine maturation.
The porosity of the fired clay provides beneficial micro-oxygenation to the wine. Changes in atmospheric pressure also gently move the wine, allowing the fine lees to regularly interact with it.
As a result, the wine is characterized by concentration, softness, roundness, length on the palate, and aromatic intensity, ranging from red fruit to spicy and lightly toasted notes.
Les Joualles :
Clay-limestone soils with the presence of iron. These limestones date from the Upper Cretaceous and contain marl layers, flint, shell fragments, and marine fossils.
The vineyard was planted in 2006 and 2007 with 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Fer Servadou.
The grape clusters, well exposed and clearly visible on the vines, reach an even and deep ripeness.
Temperature-controlled tanks, cooled to 4°C, receive the gently destemmed grapes. The tank is then closed and the juice macerates at 6°C for around ten days, gradually developing rich fruit aromas and structure.
After these cold pre-fermentation macerations, fermentation temperatures are also carefully monitored, ensuring smooth and refined tannins.
Les Joualles is bottled the following June. With its short ageing period, the wine expresses the vitality and energy of its youth while preserving the exuberance of its red fruit aromas.
Naturala :
100% Merlot, Naturala comes from the terroirs of La Bachellerie near Montignac, on clay-sandy soils that are well exposed and rich in minerals.
With only 19 mg of sulfites per liter, Naturala is well suited for those seeking wines with very low sulfite levels.
Its firm and straightforward structure is complemented by supple, floral fruit, made possible by the careful selection of grapes during our manual harvest.
La Source :
100% Merlot, La Source comes from the clay-sandy terroir of La Bachellerie near Montignac, well exposed and rich in minerals.
This terroir produces a wine that is round, intense, deep, and velvety, with ripe fruit flavors while maintaining refined and elegant tannins. The quality of the grapes brought to the vats is impeccable, thanks to the rigorous sorting made possible by manual harvesting.
With only 20 mg of sulfites per liter, this wine is ideal for those looking for wines with very low sulfite levels.
D’une Source Oubliée :
50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Fer Servadou, D’une Source Oubliée comes from the terroirs of La Bachellerie near Montignac, on clay-sandy soils that are well exposed and rich in minerals.
This wine is strongly characterized by Cabernet Franc, offering an intense and supple fruit profile reminiscent of black cherry.