Saint-Véran Climate „La Bonnode“ Ovoide Zen AOC 2023

Wine Description for Saint-Véran Climate „La Bonnode“ Ovoide Zen AOC 2023 by La Soufrandière

Colour & Appearance

Vibrant, luminous straw yellow – clear and inviting in the glass, with a vitality that already hints at the energy of this wine.

Nose

The first nose is delicate and citric: green mandarins, lemon zest and a whisper of orange blossom set the tone. With aeration, a mineral depth unfolds, reminiscent of wet slate and crushed oyster shells – saline, precise, almost sea-fresh. Beneath lies a quiet warmth: a pot of freshly brewed herbal tea, with a delicate hint of chamomile.

Palate

Lively, sinewy, direct. The wine flows with razor-sharp precision across the palate and inevitably triggers salivation – an infallible sign of quality. The phenolics are fine and invigorating, the tannins polished and powdery, the acidity brilliantly bright like the rising morning sun. Medium body, citric and taut, with a texture reminiscent of taut silk. No marathon – a sprint with precision.

Finish

Long, saline and mineral. The finish resonates like a clearly struck note – citrus-fresh, with lingering salinity and a whisper of white flowers.

Terroir & Origin

Chardonnay from the Climate „La Bonnode“ at the foot of the imposing Roche de Vergisson, east-facing. The chalky and clay-rich soil of this approximately 2-hectare parcel gives the wine its characteristic minerality and tension – a terroir that whispers depth rather than shouts it.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay, farmed biodynamically. Vines of approximately 35 years old. Spontaneous fermentation in a 19-hectolitre concrete egg, with no sulphur additions during fermentation and ageing. After around one year in the egg, brief maturation in stainless steel; minimal sulphuring only at bottling, unfiltered. A wine made with the greatest possible restraint – so that the terroir has the final say.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with oysters and seafood of all kinds. Wonderful too with goat’s cheese, ceviche or a simple gratin of crayfish tails. For those who prefer it purist: a piece of fine Comté is perfectly sufficient.

Special Features

A natural wine in the truest sense: no compromises in vineyard work, minimal cellar intervention, maximum expressiveness. The concrete egg as an ageing vessel lends the wine a creamy texture without the weight of wood – purity and precision as philosophy.