Troebel Wijnen
Domaine Beekborne - Sous Voile 2022
Domaine Beekborne - Sous Voile 2022
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The Wine & The Maker
Winemaker: Patrick Carmans & Katrien Vanderschot
Region: Neerheylissem, Hélécine, Belgium
Grapes: Chardonnay
The Story
The regular Poupouye already flirts with the Jura. With the Sous Voile, that comparison becomes considerably more serious.
The Chardonnay comes from Poupouye, Beekborne's fully south-facing vineyard in Neerheylissem. The domaine already takes a deliberately oxidative approach to Chardonnay here, using spontaneous fermentation with its own vineyard yeasts followed by malolactic fermentation. For this version, the wine is then matured sous voile: beneath a natural layer of yeast that develops on the surface of the wine.
It sounds technical, but the effect on the wine is anything but subtle. The voile partly shields the wine from oxygen while creating a very particular form of biological ageing. It's a technique most closely associated with the Jura, where Chardonnay and Savagnin develop their characteristic nutty, spicy and deeply savoury flavours.
So this isn't simply Poupouye with a little extra oak. The ageing method changes the whole direction of the wine. Less emphasis on fresh fruit, more on nuts, dried fruit, spice and umami. Belgian Chardonnay heading unapologetically towards the Jura. We're quite happy with that.
The Vibe & Tasting Notes
Dry, distinctive and savoury, with ripe and dried apple, walnut, toasted notes and a spicy, almost curry-like edge. The ageing under voile brings that characteristic combination of nuttiness, umami and gentle oxidation, while Chardonnay's freshness keeps the wine from becoming heavy. Definitely one for the table: try it with Comté or other hard cheeses, mushrooms, poultry in a creamy sauce or richer fish dishes. And don't serve it fridge-cold — a little temperature only makes it more interesting.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Images are for illustration purposes only. The actual wines in each box may vary.
A box with the amount of bottles of your choosing delivered every month on the first week. The theme changes monthly. One month you get wines from Hungary, some months all oranges, some months... who knows!
Pause or change your subscription at any time. Going on holiday and want to skip a month? No problem. Got excited after trying out a 1-bottle box and want to go for the 3-bottle box next? No problem!
Why natural wine costs more, and why it’s worth it
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No shortcuts
Growers who refuse pesticides and chemical additives accept that they’ll lose a significant part of their harvest to weather, disease, and unpredictable nature, but they do it to keep their wines pure, alive, and honest.
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Risk and loss
Nature swings between plenty and scarcity; frost, hail, heat and ferments can erase volumes, fewer bottles must carry the farm’s costs, with ageing measures adding expense to keep the wine clean and true over time.
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Integrity and handwork
Hands replace chemicals: they weed, manage canopies, pick, and sort by hand; presses and gravity moves protect texture, while cleanliness and patient ageing deliver purity without shortcuts, increasing labor but preserving integrity in every bottle.
