NEW! Limited. Tucked away in a small valley just outside Château-Chalon, Le Calvaire is the source of the domaine’s first single-vineyard Chardonnay. Calvaire refers to a warm place, and David Croix notes that, indeed, the grapes here are quick to ripen. The soils are composed of fine limestone scree and clay over grey marl. Croix explains that the marl soil provides the fine-grained texture and density, balanced by the vineyard’s low pH from the northeast exposure.
The winemaking barely differs from Croix’s white Burgundies, with natural fermentation in used oak barrels (228 and 500-litre). One-third of the wine is raised in stainless steel. From 40-year-old vines, this is a gorgeous, tense, mineral-soaked Chardonnay delivering silken, pristine citrus, orange rind and white blossom with a finish that fizzes with potential. A thrilling freshman release.