Blanc.o - Chardonnay 2024

The Blanc.o Chardonnay from Obora is a small sensation - and that has to be said so clearly. Finding a Chardonnay with this tension, this mineral precision and this ambition in the southernmost Beaujolais is simply rare today. Only 1% Chardonnay is grown in Beaujolais. The vineyards of Domaine Saint-Cyr are located where the granite ends and the limestone takes over, a geological outlier in the region, but a stroke of luck in terms of wine. On the nose, it initially shows a fine restraint. Yellow peach, ripe quince, a hint of beeswax - and behind it this cool, almost Jura-like line. Salt, light limestone, a little chalk. The soil speaks directly, without detours. Then real substance on the palate. The fruit is warm, ripe, inviting - but the acidity keeps everything on track. Taut, focused, with a salty tang that turbo-charges the drinking flow. The ageing in used barriques from the Chassin cooperage adds depth and texture without ever pushing to the fore. The finish is long, mineral and salty. Bottled unfiltered, with the potential to open up even further. But to be honest, it's hard to put the glass down. Really strong. Like all natural wines from Obora, unfiltered and bottled with minimal sulphur.