Cellier Lingot-Martin

SAVOIE-BUGEY, A TERROIR OF CHARACTER

The winegrowers of the Maison Lingot-Martin now passionately run their estate located in the vineyards of Cerdon, in the Savoie-Bugey region. The latter is divided into two wine-growing areas, namely Savoie and Bugey.

The Savoyard vineyards are located on the first slopes of the Alps, at an altitude of between 250 and 450 metres. It is made up of several islands spread over the departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isère and Ain. The vines grow mainly on stony limestone soils. There are also some marly limestone and schist soils. The climate is particularly variable depending on the terroir. The climate in Savoie is mainly continental with a strong maritime influence, with cold winters and hot summers. Westerly winds bring humidity. However, in other areas, the vines, exposed to the northern winds, thrive in a Mediterranean-influenced climate.

The Bugey vineyards are planted on the steep limestone scree of the Ain department. The vines are planted in limestone, clay and gravel soils. They grow in a semi-continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The maritime influence softens the climatic conditions slightly. As far as rainfall is concerned, it is abundant in the Bugey vineyards.

Producing both Cerdon AOC and Bugey AOC wines, this estate cultivates its vines on steep hillsides with a steep slope. They benefit from an optimal exposure allowing them to be bathed in sunlight. Various grape varieties are planted in the vineyard, notably Gamay, Poulsard and Chardonnay.

AN HEV-CERTIFIED VINEYARD

The Lingot-Martin Cellar pays particular attention to each stage in the making of its wines. The winegrowers of this house make sure to apply a quality charter on all the estates: vineyard maintenance, environmental preservation, grape cultivation, both manual and mechanical harvesting, vinification and bottling.

Thanks to a constant search for quality, Lingot-Martin was able to obtain the AOC label for its wines in 2009. In addition, this estate has obtained HEV (High Environmental Value) certification, which guarantees a good balance between the environment and the vine. This label gives more value to the production of farms voluntarily committed to respecting the environment. This is the case of the Maison Lingot-Martin. To ensure the quality and optimal ripening of the grapes, the latter uses various practices: control of vigour, limitation of yields, leaf stripping and pruning.

CERDON ANCESTRAL METHOD: TRADEMARK OF THE MAISON LINGOT-MARTIN

Although the Maison Lingot-Martin produces different wines, it owes its reputation to Cerdon, which is made according to the "ancestral method". At the end of September, the harvest marks the beginning of the wine-making process. Before pressing, the Gamay and Poulsard grapes are subjected to a skin maceration for a few hours. This phase allows a better extraction of the colouring matter naturally present in the skin of the berries. In addition, this stage improves the aromatic potential of the wines.

After settling, the must goes through alcoholic fermentation in tanks at low temperature. When the wine reaches 6.5% alcohol by volume, the fermentation process is stopped by the cold blocking the action of natural yeasts and by filtration. Natural fermentation then continues in sealed bottles stored in a climate-controlled cellar at 10°C, creating the bubbles. Indeed, the rise in temperature and the presence of yeast encourage the resumption of fermentation activity until saturation occurs after 4 to 5 months. At this point, the alcohol content is 8%.

After this stage, the bottles are emptied to filter the wine again and then washed. Then comes the transfer phase, which consists of putting the wine back into the bottles. This stage is carried out under isobarometric conditions to avoid losing the natural pressure contained. The bottles are then corked, muzzled and labelled.