2022 Domaine du Chancelier Côte de Beaune Blanc Les Monsnières

The 2022 Domaine du Chancelier Côte de Beaune Blanc Les Monsnières is a Chardonnay from one of Burgundy's most versatile appellations, vinified entirely in oak to underscore the mineral backbone of its hillside terroir. The Les Monsnières parcel sits at the top of the slope where stony clay-limestone soil drains quickly and forces the vines to dig deep, producing fruit with concentration and natural acidity that survives barrel aging without losing its shape. Domaine du Chancelier works this plot with minimal intervention, farming Chardonnay vines that benefit from the cooler air and thinner topsoil characteristic of high-elevation Côte de Beaune sites. After hand harvest, the juice is fermented and aged in a mix of 228-liter and 350-liter oak barrels, the latter format offering a gentler oak influence and slower oxygen exchange that preserves the wine's tension. The domaine's approach emphasizes site expression over winemaking signature, letting the clay-limestone minerality speak through the oak. The wine shows white stone fruit, citrus pith, and a distinct chalky mineral note that runs from the nose through the finish. There's enough weight from the barrel work to handle roast chicken, gruyère, or richer seafood preparations like lobster with brown butter, but the acidity keeps it lively enough for oysters or a simple green salad with lemon vinaigrette. Open it now for the oak integration or cellar it for two to four years as the fruit deepens and the mineral thread becomes more pronounced. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.