ARBOIS CHARDONNAY 2022
EN GOLIERE
Grape Varieties
The Chardonnay grape variety, originating from Burgundy but cultivated in the Jura since the 10th Century, has become a native of the region. Its great adaptability makes it the most prominent grape variety today, especially on limestone and light soils.
Tasting notes
A wonderful expression of the Chardonnay, offering fresh and well balanced wines with aromas of white fruits, hawthorn and acacia notes. The beautiful minerality on the palate reveals a racy and elegant wine.
Food and wine paring
Drink on its own, as an aperitif with cheese gougères. It will also be perfect with langoustines, a beautiful fish and of course all cheeses from the French Jura area: Comté, Morbier, Gex blue cheese and Mont d'Or.
Serving suggestions
Serve slightly fresh between 12° and 14°C (53-57°F).
Ageing potential
2 to 3 years.
Appellation
The Jura wine region is small in size but large in its remarkable diversity. It covers 80 kilometers between Burgundy and Switzerland, in the eastern France. The Arbois AOC is the oldest and largest of the Jura's four geographic AOCs. In particular, it was France's first AOC (created in 1937). Its name originates in the Celtic words "ar" and "bois" that would mean "fertile land".
Domaine de la Grange Grillard
The Grange Grillard (Grillard barn) and its lands were formerly property of the Cluny Abbey in Burgundy, with vines attested planted there from 1029. The Grange Grillard estate covers nowadays around 37 hectares in the Arbois appellation area.
Located on the flat part of the Estate, at an altitude of about 260 m, the "En Golière" plot covers about 2 hectares of vines, close to the "Glanon", a river which has contributed to the development of an alluvial type of soil, modifying the impact of the area’s marly geology. These soil characteristics enable us to produce Chardonnay with outstanding aromatic purity and minerality.
Winemaking
Reception of the grapes, Vatting by gravity into a thermo-regulated tank for the fermentation. They are pressed, and musts are settling under control temperature. Then engages the fermentation maintained at low temperature (20- 22°C/68-71°F.). Ageing in stainless steel tanks, on fine lees during 2 -3 months to preserve all aromas and freshness.
Vintage : 2022
Having endured the nights at the beginning of April, we were spared from the effects of the frost. A budburst on 13 April and flowering on 23 May promised an early harvest. June saw more than 150 mm of rainfall, allowing the marl soils to build up some healthy reserves to cope with the hot summer weather.
The harvest was running from 16 August to 15 September. The grapes destined for the Crémant du Jura opened the show on 16 August, being the earliest date on record at the estate. This decision paid off as the balance of acidity was in line with what we were looking for. For our other Jura appellations, a generous rainfall on the weekend of 20 August allowed the vines to finish ripening in the best conditions. The excellent health of the grapes allowed us to prolong the harvest until mid-September, with the opportunity to boost the maturity of the reds to their best polyphenolic potential, particularly for the Pinot Noir grapes, creating powerful, full-bodied wines. The white Chardonnays and Savagnins express floral aromas with a perfectly balanced mineral structure.
