DELETTRE Cidre Nature Les Compères 75cl Normandy France

Cider Apples: A wide range of varieties, including tannic, bittersweet and sharp apples, such as Bedan, Petit Jaune and Cœur de Mouton.

Age of Apple Trees: From 25 to over 100 years old, grown as traditional standard trees.

Terroirs: Traditional orchard pastures located in Normandy, across the Perche, French Vexin and Pays de Caux regions.

Farming Practices: Organic farming, with untreated, traditional open-air orchards.

Cidermaking: Natural, spontaneous fermentation with no additives or technological intervention, using indigenous yeasts and no added sulphites.

Fermentation: In open vats. Clarification is achieved exclusively through racking.

Maturation and Bottling: Bottled towards the end of fermentation to ensure a natural, stable secondary fermentation in the bottle.

Food Pairings: Perfect as an aperitif, for picnics or summer meals. Serve alongside a lightly sweetened, tangy dessert or soft cheese. An absolute must-try with oysters!

Serving Temperature: Best enjoyed chilled, between 8 and 12°C.

Stéphane Delettre, Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France

The story began in 2016 when Stéphane Delettre, originally from Normandy, moved south to establish his domaine in Restigné, in the very heart of the Bourgueil appellation. He started by working vines planted on sandy and gravelly soils, soon expanding the estate to include hillside vineyards on clay-limestone soils.

The domaine also boasts old vines propagated through massal selection, producing elegant wines of remarkable depth, with excellent ageing potential.

Today, the estate covers 7 hectares, devoted entirely to one grape variety: Cabernet Franc.

The domaine has been organically farmed from the outset. While a few plots were converted to organic farming, most were already cultivated organically when Stéphane took over.

The soils are worked mechanically, natural ground cover is encouraged, and much of the vineyard work is carried out by hand.

Biodynamic practices are also incorporated throughout the seasons, although the estate is not officially certified. Above all, Stéphane's approach is rooted in common sense and traditional, time-honoured farming methods.