Domaine Pierre-Luc Leyvraz, Vin de St. Saphorin

The soil formation in the Lavaux region dates back some 25 million years.
The geologic fault that became Lake Geneva and the Rhone Valley was created by the folding of the earth’s crust during the uprising of the Alps. Then the cycle of successive glaciers cut into this region's slopes, changing the appearance of the landscape and depositing soils brought from the Alps.                    

​The soil of the vineyards has been in place since the last glacier retreated more than 15,000 years ago.
Pierre-Luc Leyvraz is in his early fifties and took over 3.3 hectares of vines from his father, whose family’s holdings were split between agricultural crops and vines.  The estate is partitioned into ten steep parcels a few hundred meters apart along the Lavaux terraces.  The soil composition of the parcels varies somewhat, but high limestone content is a constant. 

The name of his Chasselas cuvée, Les Blassinges, comes from the name of the parcel where the estate’s first vines were planted during the 1950s. Today this wine is a subtle blend of several parcels, all located in the heart of the St. Saphorin appellation.  The wine from this outstanding terroir is fermented and aged in tank where it passes its malolactic fermentation.   Afterwards it evolves on its lees during which time it gains its rich flavor complexity.

Pierre-Luc Leyvraz Saint Saphorin Grand Cru Blassinges 2014 
Tasting notes:This exquisite wine should be served chilled as a refreshing, crisp aperitif, or accompanied by fish, poultry or cheese.
 
“Vaud veteran Pierre-Luc Leyvraz renders a single Chasselas bottling from a mosaic of parcels, committing a number of winemaking fashion faux-pas along the way.  I'll single out the St-Saphorin Les Blassinges whose silken amalgam of almond, quince, green tea, iris, and honeysuckle has haunted me ever since trying it.”—David Schildnecht, The Wine Advocate

Les Blassinges from Pierre-Luc Leyvraz has been an eight-time finalist of the Chasselas Vinum Cup, 1st rank in 1998, 4th in 2000, 4th in 2001 and 2nd in 2003.  It has also been Coup de Cœur (favorite) of the Guide Hachette des Vins de France 2001, 2004 and 2011. In addition, it had the first rank in the Chasselas category of the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse 2007 was also in the 1st rank of Terravin in 2008.