From the domaine...

Color white
Grape variety chardonnay
Surface area 1.50 ha
Production 6 330
Share of new barrels 15%
Alcohol 12,5%

The appellation 

Our Puligny-Montrachet mostly comes from a 1.1 ha plot located in the AOC Puligny 1er cru “Les Chalumeaux” which was downgraded to village when it was replanted in 1975 by the INAO because the former owner had brought around 20cm of exogenous soil, which is prescribed by the AOC specifications. It is the only village vine located in the middle of the hillside, in the middle of the 1er Crus. Over the years, both erosion and our organic practices resulted in the roots plunging deeper towards the original terroir. This explains how come our Puligny-Montrachet shows unusual density and complexity for a village wine. The other two plots
are “Les Levrons” and “Boudrières – Nosroyes” for 0.38 ha. 

The wine and the style
After a light settling, the musts are put into 228 and 600-literbarrels to complete the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. We work with 5 to 20% new barrels with wood coming mostly from Allier, light toasting. The wines are racked about a year
later before being transfered to stainless steel vats for the second phase of their aging in order to retain freshness and minerality.

Vine growing
Organic since 1995 and biodynamic since 2005. All our wines
are certified by Ecocert.

Grape: Chardonnay 

Soil: Steep slopes composed of a sandy marl and limestone.

Age of the vines: 31 years old

Maceration Process: Whole bunch pressed, lightly crushed. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrels, "sur lies" without "batonnage".

Pressing: Pneumatic press

Total elevage: 14 months 

Oak used: 25% New french oak  from Tronçais and Allier forests. Light and long soft toast.

Operations performed during ageing: One racking before bottling

 Filtration:  ining followed by light filtration

#N/A

In the vineyard :
Surface: 1,57 Ha

Exposure: Lower slopes/Multiple exposures

Soil Type: Clay/Limestone

Grape variety: Chardonnay

Size Mode: Single Guyot /Poussard

Growing method: FR-BIO-01 organic certified

Soil cultivation: Straddle ploughing

Harvest: Manual

Year of planting: 1960/1976/1982/1986/2012

Michel Lafarge was one of the greatest winemakers in modern Burgundy and he forged a reputation for making outstanding quality wines from Volnay and Meursault, such as this full bodied, smoothly creamy expression of Chardonnay from its golden heartland in the Cotes d'Or. 

Lafarge passed away in January 2020 at the age of 91. His passing was marked by an outpouring of respect from all over the wine world. The domaine, now run by his son Frédéric and granddaughter Clothilde, is rightly hailed as one of the finest estates in Volnay. The domaine is farmed biodynamically, using eco-friendly resources including a band of travelling chickens to eat vineyard pests and a horse to plough between their 10 hectares of vines. The vineyards are planted on some of the best sites in Volnay and Beaune and their winemaking is sensitive but traditional, with just a small amount of new oak used to allow the wines’ finesse to shine through. The result is some of the finest-made and longest-lived wines in Burg

Today, Michel Lafarge’ son, Fréderic, runs the around 10 hectares of vines and own some of the very best sites in Volnay. The domaine is run very much by instinct and respect for the terroir, with no sense of imposition and with biodynamic techniques. 

Winemaking
Crafted in the heart of the Jura, Domaine Maire’s Grand Minéral Chardonnay is made using fruit from clay and limestone soils that lend natural tension and minerality. The 2021 vintage is vinified without oak, allowing the purity of Chardonnay and Jura’s terroir to take centre stage. Fermented and matured in stainless steel with extended lees contact, the wine combines freshness with a gentle savoury depth.

Bouquet
The nose is clean and expressive, showing green apple, citrus peel and pear alongside subtle notes of almond, white flowers and crushed stone.

Palate
Bright, textural and dry, the palate delivers zesty citrus, crisp orchard fruit and a chalky mineral core. A subtle nuttiness lingers beneath the fresh fruit, balanced by vibrant acidity and a long, saline finish. Elegant and refreshing with a distinct Jura edge.

Food Pairing
Perfect with Comté cheese, roast chicken, or trout almondine. Also pairs beautifully with creamy mushroom dishes, seafood gratin or a vegetable tart.

WINE MAKING

Fruit was sourced from three sites in the Wairau Valley.  60% of Clones 95 and 40% of Mendoza were used.  No sulphur was added to the juices at the point of extraction which then were fermented spontaneously in a combination of seasoned French oak (90%) and stainless steel (10%).  

TASTE

Aromatics of ripe yellow citrus, nectarine and brioche.  A finely textured palate with an array of flavours from Meyer lemon to stone fruits with a lively acid to savour.

FOOD MATCH

All kinds of soft cheeses, white meats and rich seafood such as koura (crayfish) and smoked warehou.  

ACID: 6.5 g/l
pH: 3.48
ALC: 13.0%

Tasting Note: Straw yellow colour with golden edges. Intense aromas of pineapple, apple and pear in perfect harmony with the typical ripening aromas: butter, toast and caramel. Creamy and elegant taste with sufficient freshness and a pleasant aftertaste. An excellent choice with warm fish dishes, white meat and semi-hard cheeses.

Winemaking Notes: The vineyards are located in the protected area of the Jumilla appellation in the province of Murcia. There is a warm climate with more than 3000 hours of sunshine per year, and this is also one of the driest areas in Spain with a maximum of 300l of precipitation per m²/year. The vines are on a sandy soil with large pebbles, low to the ground and have a very low yield maintenance. When the grapes have reached their optimum ripeness, they are harvested by hand at night. Maceration at low temperature to preserve the intense aromas. After fermentation at very low temperature in stainless steel vats, the wine is transferred to oak barrels where it matures for 6 months “sur lie” and develops its creaminess. The grapes are grown organically and no animal products are used during the clarification of the wine, which is why this wine gets the “Vegan” label.

Certification: Vegan

Alcohol: 12.5%

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Jumilla, Spain

Pet Nat! A co-ferment of all of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes we harvested at Netherwood, bottled whilst fermenting during the 2022 harvest. A rare wine and vintage. Rose gold-apricot hue. Effervescence aromas with white peach, apricot and subtle honey notes. The palate is vibrant, fresh and steely with a fine mousse and lingering crisp finish.  Dry (extra Brut) and alive. Zero sulphur.

From the winemakers...

Our Chardonnay comes from an old hillside vineyard in the Southern Valleys region of Marlborough, where clay based loess soils prevail. Larger old barrels have predominantly been used to naturally ferment the wine. Untouched and aged over 14 months, without anything more than a peek in the barrel from time to time, has enhanced the elegance of this wine. Poised, with a delicious mineral backbone this chardonnay has tension, and genorosity at the same time, with a whiff of that classic struck match note that cool climate chardonnay can produce so well.

Suitable for Vegans.

Tasting notes:

Straw gold yellow. Fine and elegant nose mixing white fruit aromas (pear, quince) with vanilla notes. Fruit driven on the palate, the attack is fresh, followed by a round and supple texture. Flattering oaky notes appear on the aftertaste.

Food matches:

White meat, poultry, salads and pasta.

Winemaking: Night and morning harvest. Gentle crushing of the grapes – short maceration on the skin (between 6 and 12 hours) in order to get aromatic complexity – light pressing – pre-fermenting oxygenation of one part of the Chardonnay to keep freshness – controlled Alcoholic fermentation in vats (18-20°C / 65-68°F)

Soil: A wide variety of soils such as sand, clay, chalk, schist, gravel and pebbles.
Climate: Selection of vines located in the coolest areas of the Languedoc region near Limoux (wide temperature range between cool nights and warm days) and in the Gard region where the weather is warmer. The wine combines the strength and the freshness of the Limo
Aging: Maturation with stirring of the lees.

Fresh, delicate aromas of almond, stone fruit with a hint of old oak. Cirrus is the rounder of the two Chardonnays with lovely ripe, textural tropical stone fruits wrapped with moreish, mouth-filling phenolics.

'En Barberon' is made from a plot of chardonnay grown in marl/ limestone subsoil. The grapes are hand-picked and the wine is vinified and aged without sulphur, resulting in a concentrated and powerful wine.

Established in the early 1960s, by Andr? and Mireille Tissot the Domaine is now managed by B?n?dicte and St?phane Tissot.