Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau - Pastoral 2024
Nestled in the hills of Pierreclos, in the Mâconnais region, Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau has established itself as a leading producer in southern Burgundy. Frantz Chagnoleau and Caroline Gon craft meticulously precise Chardonnays from organically farmed vines, with painstaking soil management and deliberately limited yields. Their philosophy is that of true artisans of the terroir: allowing the limestone slopes to express themselves, preserving the wines' natural balance, and striving for expressions that are at once pure, luscious, and remarkably easy to drink.
Pastoral 2024 is one of the estate's most harmonious wines, conceived as a white wine for contemplation as much as for fine dining. Made from ideally situated Chardonnay plots on clay-limestone soils typical of the Mâconnais region, this vintage benefits from a luminous 2024, resulting in perfectly ripe grapes while retaining a beautiful nocturnal freshness. The harvest is entirely manual, with rigorous sorting directly in the vineyard. The grapes are gently pressed, and the juice is then transferred to barrels and demi-muids that have held several wines, where fermentation occurs using only indigenous yeasts. Aging on fine lees, without excessive oak or superfluous intervention, softens the contours, adds volume, and refines the texture, without ever masking the terroir's signature.
On the palate, Pastoral 2024 opens with a broad and refined bouquet. The initial notes evoke ripe white peach, melting pear, and fresh apricot, accompanied by aromas of white flowers, linden blossom, and honeysuckle. With aeration, more complex nuances of light honey, fresh almond, and citrus paste emerge, against a subtle background of damp stone and chalk, reminiscent of the limestone nature of the hillsides. This bouquet, both expressive and delicate, heralds a wine where fruit ripeness is combined with true depth.
On the palate, the attack is soft and enveloping, with a generous texture that coats the palate without heaviness. The mid-palate reveals a range of ripe white and yellow fruits, candied lemon, and delicate lemon cream, supported by perfectly integrated acidity that provides rhythm and prevents any sensation of excessive roundness. The texture is creamy yet elegant, enhanced by skillful aging that imparts richness, cohesion, and a very pleasant tactile sensation. The finish is long and vibrant, marked by notes of citrus zest, toasted hazelnut, and chalky minerality, with subtle, refined bitterness that structures the whole and leaves an impression of great harmony.
At the table, Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Pastoral 2024 naturally calls for refined and precise cuisine. It pairs brilliantly with roasted free-range poultry, chicken supreme with morels, braised veal with a light cream sauce, or mushroom risotto. Its richness, balanced by freshness, also makes it an ideal partner for fine fish in sauce, such as turbot or cod with beurre blanc, seared scallops, or roasted lobster with lemon butter. It blends beautifully with sophisticated vegetable dishes, featuring roasted root vegetables, butternut gratin, or dishes with truffle accents. With cheeses, it shines alongside a medium-aged Comté, Beaufort, or aged Cantal, where its depth and tension balance the creamy richness.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
