"Lightly frothy this is a bright pale straw colour with lovely energy and richness. The palate has a creamy texture and notes of lemon all supported by Granny Smith apple acidity. Delicious, not overly complex but lovely enjoyable fizz."
Folie by Daumas Gassac - Gently sparkling natural wine
Nicknamed Pet Nat (short for Pétillant Naturel) this is a natural sparkling wine, crafted with minimal intervention from the winemaker who leaves nature to do its job and develop the finished product. This marvellous example is made by Daumas Gassac from Chardonnay grapes.
Like many of the wines enjoying popularity at the moment this sparkler dates back pre-Champagne, and has been enjoyed by the French for centuries and was made all over the country.
The term for this production is méthode ancestrale, where the wine is bottled before primary fermentation is finished, without the addition of secondary yeasts or sugars. The result is a low alcohol wine of just 12% abv. The natural, stable nature of this wine usually means it will need only the lightest puff of sulphur to keep it fresh.
Simpler, lighter and more gentle that normal Sparkling wine, Folie has the advantage of avoiding sparkling wine tax as it is only semi sparkling, which is much kinder to the pocket.
