CHAZELLES 2020 (Jean-Marie CHALAND)

DESCRIPTION

CHAZELLES 2020 is a single varietal Chardonnay wine made from 40 to 80 years old vines which yield is around 50 hl/ha.

TERROIR

Located in the village of Viré, mid-hillside, the vines are planted on a soil formed between -199 and -161 million years ago, during the Lower and Middle Jurassic era. During this period, Europe was covered by the seas, sometimes cold and deep during marine transgressions, sometimes hot, agitated and shallow during the regression phases. These successive marine elevations with modification of the hydrodynamics are at the origin of the marly-limestone layers which one meets on the terroir of Viré.

The vines benefit from a soil made up of a thick layer of Pholadomya marl (Pholadomya is a mollusc living in the sea depths) dating from the Upper Bathonian period (around - 170 million years), and testifying to a deep sea presence (period of marine transgression). It rests on a so-called oolithic limestone layer formed in the Upper Bathonian / Callovian, -166 million years ago, and which testifies to the former presence of a shallow, tropical, rough sea, rich in various vertebrate and invertebrates organisms, as well as a rather warm and humid climate.

WINEGROWING & WINEMAKING

The area benefits from a micro-climate which protects the vines from the cold north winds and gives the grapes longer sunshine. The winegrower practices a culture respecting the principles of Organic Agriculture (ECOCERT certification) since 2003: no chemical treatments or insecticides.

The grapes are manually harvested, sorted and fermented in stainless steel tanks (70%) and oak barrels (30%) at low temperature with indigenous yeasts.
The must then matures on fine lees for 10 to 15 months in stainless steel tanks (70%) and oak barrels (30%) where it completes its malolactic fermentation.
After racking, the wine is bottled at the estate.

Winemaking guaranteed without chaptalisation or acidification.