Domaine Drouhin : Chardonnay Arthur 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Chardonnay Arthur 2024 from Domaine Drouhin

Tasting

Appearance
This wine displays a pale yellow to deep lemon-yellow robe, adorned with greenish reflections in its youth.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet unveils elegant notes of white flowers and candied lemon zest, enriched by indulgent hints of honey and vanilla.

Palate
Of medium power, the palate offers a texture that is both rich and opulent. The whole reveals itself as perfectly round and balanced, extending into a pure finish of beautiful length.

Food and wine pairings
This cuvée will pair wonderfully with seafood, white fish or oily fish such as salmon. It will also accompany white meats and poultry in creamy mushroom sauce very well, as well as semi-hard uncooked pressed cheeses.

Serving and cellaring
The Chardonnay Arthur 2024 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 13°C. It will offer optimal drinking between 2028 and 2030, and can be cellared to be enjoyed until around 2032.

The elegance of American Chardonnay on the Willamette Valley terroir

The estate
Founded in 1987 by the famous eponymous Burgundian family, Domaine Drouhin flourishes in Oregon. Now led by the Drouhin family, with Véronique Boss-Drouhin overseeing winemaking and Philippe Drouhin managing the vineyard, the property spans 225 acres, including 130 acres planted with vines. This pioneering estate stands out for its ability to transpose French expertise onto American terroirs, producing wines of great finesse, faithful to a philosophy of sustainable viticulture.

The vineyard
The grapes come exclusively from the estate's plots located in the Dundee Hills, in the heart of the prestigious Willamette Valley. This terroir of volcanic origin benefits from L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture Environment) certification, guaranteeing sustainable farming practices. The early-ripening vines are subject to rigorous yield control to ensure optimal concentration in the berries.

The vintage
The year began with a particularly cold spring that delayed budburst. Fortunately, a mild and dry summer made it possible to catch up on this vegetative delay. The sanitary condition proved excellent, with no disease pressure whatsoever. The harvest was thus able to begin on 23 September, delivering berries with ideal acidity to craft a remarkable, vibrant and harmonious vintage.

Winemaking and aging
The Chardonnay Arthur 2024 harvest is carried out by hand into small 12 kg crates. In the cellar, pressing is performed with whole clusters. A portion of the musts then ferments in French oak barrels to bring complexity and gentle micro-oxygenation, while the other portion is vinified in stainless steel vats to preserve the brightness of the fruit and freshness. The final blending is meticulously carried out by Véronique Boss-Drouhin.

Grape variety
This wine is crafted exclusively from Chardonnay.