Le Champ des Etoiles Chardonnay 2021

Le Champ des Etoiles (‘field of stars’) is one of our most popular Pinot Noirs – made in the image of top-notch Burgundy. That’s why we’re so excited about its “little sister” Chardonnay – direct from France’s sunny south, it’s already begun making a name for itself on the international awards circuit after just three vintages (the last release alone collected a stack of top medals). Get your hands on this juicy 2020 now – for a price you’d be hard-pressed to find in the Côte d’Or.

The man behind the label is none other than Mark Hoddy – he’s a Burgundy buff, and really pulled out all the stops to create this special cuvée, modeled after his beloved white Burgundy. He started with perfectly ripened Chardonnay grapes from prime Languedoc sites. After a gentle pressing – key to preserving delicate flavors and silky texture – he carefully escorted the “juice” back to his winery in Bordeaux (Le Chai au Quai – “a fabulous venture” says Decanter). And that’s where the magic happened …

Taking further cues from Burgundy, Mark partially fermented the wine in older French oak barrels, then treated part of it to a brief, oak-barrel slumber – this adds a creamy, spicy richness to the wine’s vibrant citrus flavors, all framed by a refreshing streak of minerality.

Country	France
Varietal	Chardonnay
Region	Southern France
Alcohol	13.0%
Volume	750mL
Vintage	2021