Picturesque Monthelie Chardonnay from steep, west-facing plot embodies organic viticulture.
Grape and Style
This wine is a white Chardonnay from the Sous le Cellier plot in Monthelie, Burgundy. The vineyard's name, meaning "under the cellar," reflects its location at the village's exit, beneath the cellars of nearby houses.
Terroir and Viticulture
The 0.69-hectare Sous le Cellier vineyard is situated in the northern part of the Monthelie appellation, benefiting from a significant west-facing slope at an altitude of 330 meters. The soil composition is silt-limestone-sand, contributing to the wine's unique character. Planted in 2003 and 2015, the vineyard maintains a high density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The vineyard is managed using organic and biodynamic practices, focusing on soil health and microbial activity without chemical inputs.
Winemaking
The winemaking process emphasizes minimal intervention to preserve the wine's terroir expression. Grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted in the vineyard. Slow pressing allows for gentle oxidation of the must. Fermentation occurs slowly in 350-liter barrels using only indigenous yeasts. The wine ages for 10 months in barrels without inputs or racking. Notably, the final product is neither filtered nor fined, allowing for a pure expression of the Chardonnay grape and its unique terroir. This approach results in a wine with an aging potential of 3 to 5 years, yielding 42 to 48 hL/ha, and showcasing the distinctive characteristics of its Monthelie origin.