“La Carbonnode” Zen VdF 2022

Wine Description for “La Carbonnode” Zen VdF 2022 from La Soufrandière

Colour & Appearance

This unconventional Chardonnay shimmers with a pale amber hue in the glass – an initial indication of its nine-day maceration, which lends it a depth rarely encountered in Burgundian white wine.

Nose

The bouquet reveals bruised apples and pears, interwoven with beeswax and ginger. These are joined by notes of light tobacco and apple peel, whilst bitter oranges with peel provide a piquant freshness. A fascinating aromatic profile that oscillates between ripeness and tension.

Palate

On the palate, the true nature of this exceptional Burgundy reveals itself: A clear, precise acidity – impressively forceful for the warm 2022 vintage – meets light tannins, which lend the wine an unusual texture. Beeswax, sweet apricot, candied orange peel and a hint of windfall fruit unfold in a long, calm flow, repeatedly set in motion by the vibrant acidity.

Finish

Long and carried by an invigorating freshness that refreshes the palate and invites the next sip. The acidity provides tension right through to the end.

Terroir & Origin

The two-hectare climat La Bonnode lies at 250 metres altitude at the foot of the Roche de Vergisson, facing east. The 35-year-old vines are rooted in calcareous marl and pale clay – ideal conditions for Chardonnay of precision and depth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay, harvested on 2nd September 2022. The distinctive feature: nine days of semi-carbonic maceration, followed by fermentation and 17 months’ ageing in barriques and foudres. With only 26 mg/l total sulphur, this is an almost unsulphured wine of remarkable stability (pH 3.48).

Food Pairing Suggestions

Grilled salmon with pine nut salsa, grilled radicchio with oranges and hazelnuts or hummus with quail skewers and pomegranate-parsley salsa – the tannins and acidity make this wine the perfect companion for robust, spicy dishes.

Special Features

The fourth and most unusual wine from the climat La Bonnode – a radical interpretation of Chardonnay that explores the boundaries of Burgundian white wine culture. A wine that polarises and fascinates in equal measure.