Michel Gahier Arbois Chardonnay 'Les Crets' 2023

Michel Gahier Arbois Chardonnay 'Les Crets' 2023From Chardonnay planted in soils of marne rouge (which contain more iron than marne blanche), Les Crts possesses a deeper and more saline personality than the two white wines above. Though it is also topped up during its two year passage in 400 liter barrels, Les Crts displays the layered character and the endlessly ringing finish more commonly associated with wines aged under veil.

The grapes are destemmed before the fermentation and the cuvaison is on the order of three weeks duration

The grapes here are macerated for six to eight hours before pressing

A mere 10% new oak allows its appellation-typical supple red fruit to lead the show

Classified as the only grand cru for red wine in the Côte de Beaune

With its cool northeasterly exposition and lighter soils

Xavier’s Viognier is a well-balanced wine that illustrates his skilled lightness of touch with this notoriously finicky variety

the grapes are sorted

The Portalis family reserves their oldest vines for their flagship Bandol Rouge

The domaine owns a high-slope 0

all in the Champagne tradition

offering a breadth of texture reined in by firm acidity

elegant floral notes