2021 Chacra Mainque Chardonnay by J-M Roulot & P. Incisa

Fresh apricots, white strawberries, cream, crushed stones and lemon meringue on the nose. Subtle spice, such as anise, white pepper and lemon grass. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a textured, phenolic palate. Very fresh and focused with persistency and tense layers of white fruit and minerals. Drink or hold. From biodynamically grown grapes.

The 2021 Mainqué Chardonnay is the second white here, produced by Jean-Marc Roulot from 40-year-old ungrafted vines in Mainqué in the Lunita property (where they regrafted the vines to Chardonnay), where they work with cover crops, no chemicals and bees. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, 70% in French oak barrels and 10% each in clay amphorae, concrete egg and stainless steel, and it matured for nine months, 70% in barrel and 10% each in concrete and stainless steel. It has the precision and purity of Roulot, which to a certain extent is the result of thorough work with the press. "He sent us the press program," Piero told me. "And we now have two presses. We are learning." When I thought about what was in common between the reds and the whites, I came up with three words: precision, purity and elegance. It has notes of white flowers and a touch of fennel and other aromatic herbs. It was harvested early in the morning and in the season, and the wine is light and refreshing, ethereal, weightless and with purity and precision. It's a delight!