Saint-Véran Climate "La Bonnode" Ovoide Zen AOC 2023 1500ml Magnum
A biodynamic Chardonnay from southern Burgundy, spontaneously fermented in a concrete egg and captivating with radiant citrus fruit and fine saline minerality – presented here in magnum format.
Bottler: Bret Brothers/La Soufrandière, 125 rue Aux Bourgeois, 71680 Vinzelles / France
In the glass
Colour
Deep straw yellow, bright and clear.
Nose
Delicate citrus notes of green mandarin, lemon zest and orange blossom, accompanied by wet chalk, oyster shell and a hint of herbal tea with chamomile.
Palate
Energetic and invigorating on the palate with a powdery-fine phenolic texture, brilliantly bright acidity, a taut citrus-driven line, medium body and a sinewy, well-defined profile.
Character
A sprightly, lively white wine with agility rather than weight – precise, fresh and highly moreish.
Pairing
Oysters and fine seafood, zander fillet in lemon butter, crisp summer salad with fresh goat’s cheese.
Notes
Demeter-certified biodynamic viticulture on limestone-clay soils; spontaneously fermented and aged for one year in a 19-hl concrete egg, bottled largely without sulphur and unfiltrated – from 35-year-old vines at the foot of the Roche de Vergisson.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Intense, luminous straw yellow, crystal clear in the glass – a wine that promises freshness even visually.
Nose
Initially a delicate citrus realm: green mandarin, lemon zest and orange blossom. With air, notes from the maturation emerge – wet chalk, oyster shell, a persistent saline thread. Beneath lies something warming, like freshly brewed herbal tea with a hint of chamomile.
Palate
Pace over weight: with fine polish, the wine races across the palate, driven by bright, radiant acidity. The phenolic finesse is invigorating, the tannins polished and powdery. Citrusy and taut, medium-bodied, sinewy and precisely contoured – more sprinter than marathon runner.
Finish
Clean, salty and refreshingly bone-dry – the mineral signature of the limestone soils lingers long on the palate.
Terroir & Origin
The “La Bonnode” climat lies at the foot of the Roche de Vergisson in the southern Mâconnais. This roughly 2-hectare, east-facing parcel with vines averaging 35 years old sits on limestone-clay soils – the foundation for the distinctive minerality of this Saint-Véran. Behind it stands Domaine La Soufrandière in Vinzelles, where the Bret brothers have been consistently reimagining their family heritage since 2000.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Pure Chardonnay, spontaneously fermented in a 19-hl concrete egg – hence the name “Ovoide”. No sulphur was used during fermentation or maturation; after around a year in the egg and a brief period in stainless steel, the wine was bottled unfiltered with only a minimal addition of sulphur.
Food Pairings
The saline tension calls for oysters and mussels in white wine broth. Also an exciting choice with grilled sole fillet, sushi or a lemon risotto with green asparagus.
Special Features
The oval vessel shape keeps the must in motion through natural convection – the result is an unusually lively, pulsating texture. Add to this the magnum bottle: in this larger format, the wine matures more slowly and harmoniously, perfect for a festively set table.
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