PINARD ET FILLES
PAST WINES
2021 FRANGIN
This wine is made from Frontenac Noir (30%), Marquette (50%), and Petite Pearl (20%). Whole-clusters were fermented semi-carbonically for three weeks. Fred avoids pump-overs and punch-downs, preferring a gentle infusion style extraction. The wine is then pressed off into 228 and 400L barrels for a modest élevage. It was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without SO2.
2021 NUANCE DE GRIS
This wine is made exclusively from Frontenac Gris, the pink skinned mutation of Frontenac Noir first observed by Peter Hemstad in 1992. The grapes are gently pressed directly in 400L neutral barrel for fermentation, malolactic conversion, and élevage. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered without SO2. 12.2% ABV
2021 PICNIQUETTE
This piquet is made by refermenting Frontenac Gris and Le Crescent skins in water in stainless steel tank. It is then blended with cider and a little wildflower honey for secondary fermentation in can. It is released without added SO2. 7.5% ABV
2020 FRANGIN
This wine is made from Frontenac Noir, Marquette, and Petite Pearl. Whole-clusters were fermented semi-carbonically for three weeks. Fred avoids pump-overs and punch-downs, preferring a gentle infusion style extraction. The wine is then pressed off into 228 and 400L barrels for a modest élevage. It was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without SO2. 12.5% ABV
2020 FRANGINE
This wine is made from Le Crescent, a complex hybrid developed in the 80s in Minnesota but not released commercially until 2002. One of its parent grapes comes from a hybrid created by legendary grape breeder Elmer Swenson from Muscat of Hamburg which retained its stunning aromatic intensity. It can survive temperatures as low as -38o. The grapes were fermented and raised on skins for a total of 100 days before being pressed off to complete élevage. It was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without SO2. 12.8% ABV
2020 VIN DE JARDIN
This cuvée all three expressions of the Frontenac Grape: Rouge (40%), Blanc (30%), and Gris (30%). The grapes were partially whole-cluster fermented for semi-carbonic maceration, partially direct pressed into amphora, and partially foot-trod and fermented on skins. After a short élevage the wine is bottled without fining, filtration, or SO2. 11% ABV
2020 VERRE DE GRIS
This wine is made from Frontenac Gris, an extremely complex hybrid developed in Minnesota in the late 70s with parentage well beyond Vinifera, Labrusca, and Riparia. The pink skinned colour mutation was first observed in the 90s but wasn’t commercially available until a decade later. It is extremely cold- hardy and resistant to downy mildew making it an ideal candidate for organic viticulture. Fred crushes the grapes and lets the juice macerate with the skins for two days before pressing off into amphora for fermentation and élevage. It was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without SO2. 12.5% ABV
2019 CIEL OUVERT
This wine is made from Frontenac Blanc, the white skinned mutation of Frontenac. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed into barrel for fermentation and élevage. As an ode to the Jura, Fred decided to leave the barrels un-topped, allowing gentle oxidation, and concentrating the flavours. It was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without SO2. 12.5% ABV