Monthelie 1er Cru Les Champs Fulliots AOC 2023

Wine Description for Monthelie 1er Cru Les Champs Fulliots AOC 2023 by Rémi Jobard

Colour & Appearance

Pale straw yellow with luminous green reflections – a wine that already displays its youth and freshness in the glass.

Nose

Initially closed and reductive, almost flinty in its mineral austerity. Yet with air, a fascinating complexity unfolds: green apple skin, lime zest and nashi pear meet anise and wild fennel. A salty sea breeze permeates the aromatic spectrum and lends the Premier Cru a cool, maritime dimension.

Palate

Here the full tension of the 2023 vintage reveals itself: juicy, ripe fruit with creamy texture is contrasted by mineral austerity and a knife-sharp, almost painful acidity. The yellow fruit appears simultaneously opulent and precisely defined, whilst an almost dusty phenolic character provides additional texture. Highly vibrant with a solid backbone – a wine with drive, depth and crystalline definition.

Finish

Long, saline and carried by vibrant acidity. The mineral component dominates the aftertaste, whilst the fruit gradually fades.

Terroir & Origin

The Premier Cru vineyard site Les Champs Fulliots in Monthelie sits at 250–300 metres elevation with south-easterly exposure. This comparatively high-altitude site lends the wine its cool elegance and mineral precision – typical of the often underrated white wines from Monthelie.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay, hand-harvested and gently pressed. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, followed by twelve months ageing half in used barrels (12% new), half in large, old foudres. A further six months in stainless steel, then bottled unfiltered – a vinification that prioritises finesse over opulence.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This energetic Premier Cru calls for scallops with cauliflower purée, pan-fried turbot or medium-aged Comté cheese. Also an excellent choice with lobster in butter or calf’s sweetbreads with morels.

Special Features

Rémi Jobard is one of Burgundy’s quiet stars. His 2023 Les Champs Fulliots is a prime example of tension-laden, terroir-focused Chardonnay with enormous ageing potential.