Our tasting impressions
Frionnes is rapidly establishing itself as one of our favorite Saint Aubin premier cru vineyards. This version is remarkably precise. It also has notable cut. This all serves to beautifully highlight the mineral-inflected white fruit flavors.
About this wine
Located just outside the town of Saint Aubin, Les Frionnes is a small 3ha vineyard facing southeast. This top 1er Cru also covers wines produced from Es Champs and Les Perrières.
The Chardonnay comes from a .3ha plot planted on average 29 years ago in clay & limestone soil. The exposure of the vineyard is south and is at an elevation of 300 meters.
Grapes were handpicked in early September and yields were 48 hl/ha. Fermentation was by native yeast. Aging was in oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation was done and Bottled in 2022 after fining and filtration.
About the grape
Chardonnay is the most popular wine variety in the US. Winemakers love the green-skinned grape as well because it’s so easy to grow and adapt to many different production techniques. Grown everywhere, Chardonnay’s greatest expressions are widely believed to come from Burgundy. Indeed, this is believed to be where the grape originated. Chablis, in Northern Burgundy and Champagne also offer superlative examples of Chardonnay.
2020, despite summer heat and generally being the earliest harvest on record, managed to produce surprisingly classical white wines (the same can't be said for the reds). Most of this is attributable to sufficient water tables developed over the winter and steady ripening of the grapes throughout the season.