Grape variety saga: chardonnay

Chardonnay is a member of the Noirien family. It is the natural and direct descendant of Pinot Noir, coupled with another ancient grape variety: Gouais Blanc. Originally from Israel, Chardonnay is now one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. Unlike Pinot Noir, a demanding grape variety that has difficulty acclimatizing outside Burgundy, Chardonnay adapts easily to its environment.

Chardonnay is recognized by its small, elongated bunches. The berries, airy and spaced out, take on a magnificent golden color during veraison. The leaves are a deep green, and can be full or 5-lobed. Chardonnay is an early ripening grape variety that thrives in poor, chalky soils.

Generally more floral and mineral in the north, and fruitier in the south, this grape has a gift for expressing the terroir in which it is grown. The aromas are typical, complex and intense, and above all incredibly diverse: dried fruit, hazelnut, toasted almond, exotic fruit, butter, fern, lime blossom, pear, popcorn, oatmeal, acacia flower, walnut, cookie...It is also quickly marked by the know-how of the men and women of Burgundy, which adds to its aromatic complexity. Using winemaking and ageing techniques acquired over centuries, the winemakers have created some of the finest wines in the world.

Chardonnay is one of the grape varieties grown at Domaine de l'Aigle and Domaine de CigalusIt expresses itself wonderfully in the cuvée Aigle Royal but also in our Crémant de Limoux Code Rouge and Ballerine.