2018 Domaine Jean-Luc Mouillard Côtes du Jura 'Bas de la Chaux'

Jura, France

This is a perfect gateway into French Chardonnay for a fraction of the price of great Burgundy. Meursault on a budget! 100% Chardonnay from a single 3-acre parcel named La Chaux. The farming ethic is one of lutte raisonnée, or pragmatically sustainable. No herbicides or pesticides or chemical fertilizers are employed. The initial fermentation takes place in steel with the Malo-lactic conversion taking place during aging in older barrels, and both are normally spontaneous. This wine sings with fresh yellow apple, Meyer lemon, and white flowers, and the finish has the creamy texture of pedigreed Chardonnay.  The wine is a product of Jura’s alpine foothills—their elevation and their limestone—making for a delicious combination of elegance and minerality.