Mountain Chardonnay from Marnes Blanches
When Pauline and Géraud Fromont founded their Domaine des Marnes Blanches deep in the south of the Jura, the region (Sud Revermont) wasn't on anyone's radar. It was 2006, the husband and wife were fresh out of wine school, and they were happy to be able to come home to the Jura and build something together. Since then, so much has changed. The Jura blew up. Ganevat (from the same region) became a star and then a superstar, Labet and Miroir (likewise neighbors) became culty and then cultier. The Natural Wines of Overnoy Puffeney became legendary and spearheaded the whole movement.
But all of that happened for a simple reason: the Jura is a land of incredible terroir with ancient winemaking traditions and people populated by people who want to preserve them. And one of the greatest things about getting the Marnes Blanches wines in, is that they're a crystal clear reminder of why these wines are all the rage. The domaine is named after the white soils that made up the first vineyard they farmed -- that's how terroir focused they are. You can smell it in the wine and taste it, especially on the mineral, salty finish. But the wines -- especially this Chardonnay -- are also defined by full of the beautiful, crunchy, high-altitude fruit of perfect farming (organic) and careful, minimally interventionist winemaking.
Domaine des Marnes Blanches Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Molates 2022 - $59.99
Everything we love about Jura Chardonnay in one bottle: citrus zest and tart apples give way to a savory, mineral finish. Piercing and then thought provoking and delicious throughout. The Fromonts top-up the baralles of Molates to prevent oxidation but there's no battonage which makes for a pure and driving taste of the Sud Revermont terroir.
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