Domaine de la Cras Bourgogne Chardonnay 2022

Description

In 2013, the city of Dijon purchased a 160 hectare agricultural property called Domaine de la Cras, located just outside the city limits. An open call for proposals was held to decide who would take over the winemaking – the primary criteria were that the vineyards had to be farmed organically, the winner had to be a young winemaker with no existing family vineyards, and be interested in opening the domaine to the public for educational visits. After Marc Soyard was chosen, he was given free reign to live on-site at the domaine, tend to the vineyards, and produce and sell his own wines – on the condition that he pay a yearly “rent” of 2000 bottles per year to the city of Dijon. Originally from a non-winemaking family in the Jura, Marc worked for six years at Domaine Bizot in Vosne Romanée, as chef de culture (vineyard manager), and also working in the cellar closely with Jean-Yves Bizot to learn the winemaking process. Marc has adapted the same hands-off, natural philosophy to Domaine de la Cras that he learned at Domaine Bizot. All of the vineyards are farmed organically with some biodynamic practices. All vinification is done with natural yeasts, and minimal addition of sulfur.

100% Chardonnay from a .5 hectare vineyard called ‘Le Grand Bessy’. 33 year old vines are manually harvested with sorting done at the vine. Pressurage with a pneumatic press, and separation of the press runs: free-run juice, juice from the rebêches and last juice. No SO2 added. Settling. Vatting and fermentation in barrel. Elevage for 15-18 months. No fining or filtering before being bottled.