Domain Dominique Auroy - Clos du Recif 2020
Domaine Dominique Auroy is located on the atoll of Rangiroa, in the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia . The estate is located 5,000 km from the nearest mainland. The technical team is currently animated and managed by Sébastien Thépénier . Oenologist, he continues the work of his predecessors (Thierry Chaumais, Bruno Corneaux) at the estate since 2002. Since October 2010, the team has started an organic farming process , with a concern for sustainable commitment and ethics. The harvest takes place every 5 months to 5 and a half months. In practice, each year, the harvest takes place on a different date. The duration of the vegetative cycle is a function of weather conditions and the pruning date under the influence of the moon and the tides. Because of the little marked seasons, it is pruning that will generate the vegetative cycle, cause stress, allow the appearance of new shoots which will themselves produce grapes. Today, the Rangiroa vineyard produces only white wines (Coral White, Clos du Récif and Sweet White) and rosé (Nacarat Rosé)
Clos du Récif is made from Carignan Rouge vines, aged 15 to 20 years and planted in “ franc de pied ”, without rootstock. The soil is mainly limestone. It is formed by the degradation of the skeleton of the madrepores which constitute the coral reef and the algae constitute one of the food supplements. The grapes are harvested manually then put into slow pneumatic pressing. After 16 hours of cold settling, fermentation begins spontaneously with native yeasts. At the end of alcoholic fermentation, the wine is racked to remove the coarse lees. Malolactic fermentation occurs on the fine lees and lasts 1 to 3 months. The majority of the wine (80%) is aged in stainless steel vats on fine lees for 3 to 6 months, the rest is aged in oak barrels of French origin (Nièvre and Allier) for 4 to 5 months. The wood brings texture but remains quite discreet in order to let this particular terroir express itself.
Grape variety: 100% Carignan Rouge (vinified in white)
