Philippe Balivet Bugey Cerdon Methode Ancestrale

Vintage: Non-Vintage

Origin: Bugey, France (Bugey-Cerdon)

Grapes: Gamay

Alcohol: 7%

Balivet's Bugey Cerdon is a delightfully expressive sparkling rosé made using the traditional méthode ancestrale, where a single fermentation creates those fine, natural bubbles. Unusually for the appellation, Vincent and Cécile blend vintages – this cuvée combines 2022 and 2023 with some 'vieux vin' added for consistency and vinosity. Hand-harvested Gamay and Poulsard undergo a slow second fermentation lasting four months at 10°C for a gentle 'prise de mousse', using minimal SO2 at just 16mg/l total. Following AOC rules, there's a fair amount of residual sugar, making this a semi-sweet wine that works brilliantly as an aperitif or pairing with desserts. The nose is bright and perfumed with wild strawberry and cherry blossom, whilst the palate is fresh, precise, and full of crunch – cherry, raspberry, and violets all underpinned by delicate bubbles and that beautiful play between natural sweetness and crisp acidity. At just 7% alcohol, it's dangerously drinkable and has a habit of disappearing before you know it.