# Beaujolais Blanc Élevé en fût de chêne (2023)

- **Producer:** Domaine Didier Desvignes
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Beaujolais, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €14
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** white flowers, lemon, vanilla

## About this wine

The Beaujolais Blanc Élevé en fût de chêne 2023 from Domaine Didier Desvignes is a 100% Chardonnay from the Beaujolais region of Burgundy. This wine is distinguished by its rarity, as Beaujolais Blanc constitutes only about 2% of the appellation's total production. The producer, Domaine Didier Desvignes, is a family estate with a six-generation history, emphasizing minimal intervention winemaking. The vineyard is situated in the northern part of Beaujolais, characterized by clay and loam soils. The 2023 vintage benefited from optimal weather conditions, promoting slow and even grape ripening.

## Interesting facts

- Beaujolais Blanc is a rare gem, accounting for just 2% of the appellation's output.
- The name 'Élevé en fût de chêne' directly translates to 'aged in oak barrels'.
- This wine hails from the northernmost part of the Beaujolais vine-growing area.

## Food pairing

The wine's freshness and citrus notes complement the delicate flavors of seafood and lighter poultry. Its subtle oak influence can stand up to creamy sauces without overpowering the dish.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for this Beaujolais Blanc begins with hand-picked and sorted grapes, which are then pressed as whole bunches. The must is initially held in stainless steel vats to preserve freshness before alcoholic fermentation begins. Following this, the must is transferred to Burgundian oak barrels (pièces bourguignonnes) for both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The wine then undergoes extended aging in these barrels, allowing for natural clarification. A light fining precedes bottling. The producer emphasizes low yields, biodiversity, and green harvesting in their viticultural practices, alongside controlled use of phytosanitary products and organic fertilizers.