Améthyste

About this wine

This Crémant is made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc and is presented as a Blanc de Noirs with red fruit character and fresh acidity. Production follows the traditional method with a secondary fermentation in the bottle and extended ageing on the lees, the producer notes about 18 months sur lattes. On the nose you will find red currant and cranberry aromas with a hint of crushed strawberry and a subtle floral lift. The palate is fresh and upright with fine persistent mousse, a medium body and a mineral thread that keeps the finish clean and long. Texture is chalky and focused, the tannic backbone from the black grape varieties gives structure rather than heaviness. These production and tasting details are from the producer and reseller technical notes.

About the grape

Merlot is a classic Bordeaux variety that likely forms the bulk of this blanc de noirs, it was bred in the Bordeaux region and is valued for early ripening, supple tannins and its ability to give body and roundness in sparkling blends. Cabernet Franc has older roots that reach into the Loire and Bordeaux regions, it contributes higher natural acidity and aromatic lift, and here it is used to bring freshness and structure to a white sparkling made from red grapes. For this bottling the grapes are hand harvested and whole berry pressed to avoid skin contact, then made by the traditional method with a second fermentation in bottle and at least 18 months on the lees, practices that highlight Merlot flesh and Cabernet Franc perfume while keeping the wine pale. These two varieties are well suited to Bordeaux soils and climate, Merlot often thriving on cooler clay and limestone pockets and Cabernet Franc performing well on gravel and sand where it keeps lively acidity for sparkling wine production.

Quick facts

• 🍇 It is a Blanc de Noirs made only from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, so red grapes create a white sparkling wine full of red fruit character.
• 👩‍👧 The estate was reborn under Céline and Frédéric in 2015, turning a historic local producer into the modern Celene family of crémants.
• 🧺 Grapes are picked by hand and placed in small clayettes, a traditional crate that helps preserve whole bunch quality.
• 🥂 The wine spends about 18 months on the lees in bottle, which builds a fine persistent mousse and a toasty creamy texture.
• 🪨 Cellaring and ageing take place in an 18th century limestone cellar carved into the rock, where a steady 13°C and humid air help refine the bubbles.

Palate profile

Producer

Celene Bordeaux formed when the historic Crémant de Bordeaux elaborator formerly known as Ballarin merged with the Lannoye family vineyards, bringing together sparkling wine production and several right bank estates. The site traces a Crémant tradition back to 1947 and sits above an 18th century cellar that can store around 2 million bottles. Leadership by Céline Lannoye and oenologist Frédéric Costella has modernized production and raised the profile of Bordeaux sparkling wine. The company manages multiple chateaux including Château Ambe Tour Pourret, Château Lanbersac, and Château Moulin de Clotte, focusing on both traditional Bordeaux appellations and Crémant de Bordeaux sparkling wines.