Domaine du Pelican - Chardonnay Arbois 2021

"Today’s wine offer takes us to the foothills of the French Alps and the esteemed Marquis d'Angerville’s Domaine de Pelican estate nestled in the Arbois region of the Jura. Cool, focused, mineral, stony, and racy, with a solid core of intense Chardonnay fruit & hints of green apple. Perfect with shellfish, oysters, clams, shrimp and all kinds of seafood, sushi, cheeses and much more. If you love white Burgundy you will fall in love with unique, rare wine." Chris Cree MW It was a Chardonnay from the Jura that was the impetus for this multi-generational, cult status Burgundy producer's foray into the wines of this obscure region. "I tasted this bottle blind in a restaurant in Paris that I often go to. I always tell the sommelier to give me something blind and the only rule is that it has to be outside Burgundy. When he brought me this wine, I said, 'You forgot the rule, you brought me a wine from Burgundy.' And he said, 'I am afraid you're wrong.’’ - Guillaume d’Angerville The wine was a bottle of Stéphane Tissot’s Chardonnay Arbois Les Bruyères 2005 and it left such an impression on Guillaume that it inspired him to begin a search for vineyards in the Jura. Guillaume was first able to lease the Chateau Chavanes in Montigny-les-Arsures, which gave him access to 5 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines replanted ten years prior by the former owner. He also obtained access to five more hectares of vines never touched by chemicals that were previously farmed by Jean-Marc Brignot. But in 2014 Guillaume hit the jackpot when Jacques Puffeney announced he would be retiring, allowing Guillaume to take over 4 hectares of his vineyards. This cuvée has been made since the beginning of Domaine du Pélican, in 2012. It is sourced from several different parcels of vineyards located in Arbois and Montigny-les- Arsures. The vineyards sit mostly on hill tops, over marly soils. Their altitude is the highest of the estate - close to 400m in elevation. After harvest, the grapes are lightly crushed and then immediately pressed. Fermentation takes place in barrels and foudres. Aging is in 350L and 500L barrels (of which 5% are new ) for about 30% of the crop. The balance is in foudre and vats. It was a Chardonnay from the Jura that was the impetus for this multi-generational, cult status Burgundy producers foray into the wines of this obscure region. "I tasted this bottle blind in a restaurant in Paris that I often go to. I always tell the sommelier to give me something blind and the only rule is that it has to be outside Burgundy. When he brought me this wine, I said, 'You forgot the rule, you brought me a wine from Burgundy.' And he said, 'I am afraid you're wrong.’’ - Guillaume d’Angerville The wine was a bottle of Stéphane Tissot’s Chardonnay Arbois Les Bruyères 2005 and it left such an impression on Guillaume that it inspired him to begin a search for vineyards in the Jura. Guillaume was first able to lease the Chateau Chavanes in Montigny-les-Arsures, which gave him access to 5 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines replanted ten years prior by the former owner. He also obtained access to five more hectares of vines never touched by chemicals that were previously farmed by Jean-Marc Brignot. But in 2014 Guillaume hit the jackpot when Jacques Puffeney announced he would be retiring, allowing Guillaume to take over 4 hectares of his vineyards. This cuvée has been made since the beginning of Domaine du Pélican, in 2012. It is sourced from several different parcels of vineyards located in Arbois and Montigny-les- Arsures. The vineyards sit mostly on hill tops, over marly soils. Their altitude is the highest of the estate - close to 400m in elevation. After harvest, the grapes are lightly crushed and then immediately pressed. Fermentation takes place in barrels and foudres. Aging is in 350L and 500L barrels (of which 5% are new ) for about 30% of the crop. The balance is in foudre and vats.