This family estate is run by brothers Vincent & François Jouard – Vincent on the vines and François in the cellar. They regard working their ancestral property as their joie de vivre and have the utmost respect for the terroir in Chassagne Montrachet. The focus of their winemaking is to respect the land. They use extensive ploughing to avoid chemical weeding and farm the vineyards sustainably. Using only their oldest vines (50+), Jouard produces a limited amount of cases every year, and the waiting list keeps getting longer and longer! The combination of the complex soils and old vines results in elegant and expressive wines with luscious vitality and finesse.
Harvested by hand and immediately pressed; the wine goes into French oak barrels where it will ferment in a cool cellar. The wine is aged for around 12 months in barrels, of which 10% are new, and the remainder used for up to 6 vintages. A proportion of the wine stays in vat. After fermentation, the wines will have the lees stirred up twice a week and will be racked once. Bottling takes place 18 months after the harvest, at the end of winter.
The 2022 Chassagne-Montrache, Vieilles Vignes has a fresh and vibrant nose with citrus peel, orange pith and yellow flower scents. The palate is robust and delicious with citrus, white pears and peach fruit, and a delicate mineral note on the finish. This is a glorious, aromatic, elegant wine with depth and persistence which is not far off premier cru quality. Drink 2024-2030.
