Les Preuses is probably taken from the word “Perreuse” (stone), the name given to the ancient Roman road which ran below the current vineyard. Made for ageing thanks to a dense, compact, clay-rich soil resting on a limestone bed.
GRAPE VARIETY: Chardonnay
GROUND OF THE APPELATION: Limestone and clay
DOMAIN SURFACE: 2.55 hectares
APPELATION SURFACE: 11.44 hectares
ORIENTATION OF THE PARCELS: From South-Southeast to South-Southwest
HARVEST: manual.
VINIFICATION: Use of the principle of gravity so as to avoid all pumping, which could harm the quality of the wine. Brief (1½ - 2 \ hours) pneumatic pressing to obtain a gentle separation of the
solid and liquid parts of the grape. Very light static settling of the juice to preserve enough fine lees so that the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations can occur naturally. The must is run into French oak barrels (aged of 6 years in average) for 50 to 60% of the harvest. The remainder is vinified in small stainless steel vats.
MATURING: 14 to 15 months, of which 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels, for 50 to 60% of the harvest. The end of maturation occurs in small stainless steel vats.