Domaine des Marnes Blanches Chardonnay En Levrette

Vintage: 2022

Origin: Jura, France

Grapes: Chardonnay

Alcohol: 13.5%

This precise and deep Chardonnay is sourced from the En Levrette lieu-dit, situated at the top of the coteau, where the topsoil is thin and the roots reach deep into iron-rich limestone bedrock containing gryphae fossils. The wine is produced from 50 to 60-year-old vines of an exceptional massal selection, ensuring top-tier fruit quality. Following hand-harvesting, the wine undergoes both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in 500-litre demi-muids using indigenous yeasts and without racking. Pauline and Géraud then age the wine for up to two years in a combination of old foudres and demi-muids, resulting in a mineral-driven expression of Jurassic elegance that is bottled with only very light sulfur.

The 2022 vintage presents a bright golden colour with sparkling reflections and a complex, layered aromatic profile. The nose reveals superb notes of Granny Smith apple, lemon, and white currant, accented by acacia blossom, citrus peel, and gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is juicy and textural, displaying a signature chalky minerality and lovely limestone-induced bitters. The acidity is beautifully integrated, leading into a lengthy, clean finish characterised by flavours of vanilla pods and confit citrus. This refined Chardonnay is drinking exceptionally well now but possesses the structure to evolve gracefully through 2030.