Domaine François Carillon - Bourgogne Chardonnay 2024
Located in Puligny-Montrachet, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, Domaine François Carillon is the heir to a family winemaking tradition dating back to the 16th century. Archives attest to the presence of Jean Carillon in the vineyard as early as 1520, bearing witness to nearly five centuries of Burgundian history. After working alongside his father Louis and brother Jacques, François Carillon created his own estate in 2010, continuing a philosophy based on precision, elegance, and respect for the terroirs. The estate now covers more than sixteen hectares, mainly dedicated to Chardonnay, between Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Saint-Aubin. Its Bourgogne Chardonnay comes from plots located notably in the communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, where the clay-limestone soils offer the grape variety a particularly favorable environment. The vines, some of which are over fifty years old, naturally bring concentration and depth to the grapes. This regional cuvée thus reflects the style of the estate, with a constant pursuit of aromatic purity, freshness, and finesse.
The 2024 Bourgogne Chardonnay is made exclusively from Chardonnay, sourced from plots worked with particular attention to soil quality and yield control. François Carillon favors mechanical plowing and excludes the use of herbicides, in a reasoned viticulture approach respectful of the environment. The harvest is carried out manually to preserve the integrity of the grapes before their arrival at the winery. After a delicate pneumatic pressing and static settling, the musts are transferred to oak barrels for alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. The aging continues for about twelve months in wood, with a moderate proportion of new barrels, around 15%, to preserve the expression of the fruit. A complementary period of homogenization in tank then allows refining the wine's balance before bottling. In the context of a fresh and demanding 2024 vintage in Burgundy, this measured vinification seeks to preserve the natural liveliness of Chardonnay while providing enough texture and depth.
The 2024 Bourgogne Chardonnay promises to be a particularly precise and bright white, marked by a fresh expression of orchard fruits and citrus. The nose evokes lime, crisp pear, and white peach, accompanied by delicate floral nuances and a discreet hint of hazelnut. On the palate, the attack should be lively and energetic, with well-defined acidity that immediately brings momentum to the wine. The barrel aging contributes to enriching the texture without masking the naturally chiseled character of Chardonnay. The body retains a beautiful suppleness, while the limestone soils contribute to a sense of tension and precision. The finish should linger on citrus notes and a pleasant saline sensation, a signature sought in François Carillon's whites. Accessible in its youth for the freshness of its fruit, this Bourgogne also has the necessary potential to gain complexity after a few years in bottle. It will perfectly accompany oysters, sea bream ceviche, seared scallops, fish with beurre blanc, or creamy poultry.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
