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JEAN PIERE ROBINOT Fetembulles
JEAN PIERE ROBINOT Fetembulles
Regular price
$45.00 USD
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$45.00 USD
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Jean-Pierre Robinot's Fêtembulles is a captivating pétillant naturel (pet-nat) sparkling wine hailing from the Loire Valley in France, crafted by one of the most revered figures in the natural wine movement. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes sourced from organically farmed vineyards—often from the Jasnières or Coteaux du Loir appellations, though labeled simply as Vin de France—this wine embodies Robinot’s minimalist, hands-off philosophy. The grapes are hand-harvested from soils rich in limestone, silex, and red clay, typically from younger vines, though some vintages may include fruit from vines up to 100 years old.
Fêtembulles is produced using the ancestral method, where fermentation begins in stainless steel tanks with native yeasts and completes in the bottle, trapping natural carbonation. After aging on its lees—often for around 9 to 12 months—the wine is disgorged by hand to remove sediment, topped up with the same wine (no dosage), and sealed with a crown cap. True to Robinot’s ethos, it is unfined, unfiltered, and contains no added sulfites, qualifying it as a VINS S.A.I.N.S. wine ("Sans Aucun Intrant Ni Sulfites Ajoutés"—without any inputs or added sulfites). The alcohol content typically hovers around 12%.
On the nose and palate, Fêtembulles offers a lively interplay of delicate, fine bubbles and a dry, refreshing profile. Expect aromas and flavors of green apple, citrus zest, and white fleshy fruits, often with hints of brioche, sourdough, butter, nuts, or almond paste from its lees aging. A flinty minerality and subtle oxidative notes—hallmarks of Robinot’s style—lend depth and tension, while the finish is crisp, lingering, and remarkably pure. Early in its life, it may retain a touch of residual sugar, giving a "soft" finish, though it often evolves to bone-dry by summer.
This pet-nat reflects Jean-Pierre Robinot’s storied career—from running one of Paris’s first natural wine bars, L’Ange Vin, to co-founding the influential Le Rouge et Le Blanc magazine, and finally returning to his native Chahaignes to make wine. Part of his L’Opéra des Vins label (using purchased grapes from trusted growers), Fêtembulles is a joyful, elegant expression of Chenin Blanc that rivals champagne in complexity. It pairs beautifully with seafood, goat cheese salads, or light starters like octopus with potato cream, and while delightful now, it has the potential to age gracefully for years in a cool cellar. Each bottle, adorned with Robinot’s artistic labels—often his own paintings or photographs—is a testament to his boundless energy and uncompromising vision.
