le Chai Au Quai Chardonnay le Champ des Etoiles 750 ML

Le Champ des Etoiles (‘field of stars’) is one of our most popular Pinot Noirs – made in the image of top-notch Burgundy. That’s why we’re so excited about its “little sister” Chardonnay – direct from France’s sunny south, it’s already begun making a name for itself on the international awards circuit after just three vintages (the last release alone collected a stack of top medals). Get your hands on this juicy 2017 now – for a price you’d be hard-pressed to find in the Côte d’Or. The man behind the label is none other than Mark Hoddy – he’s a Burgundy buff, and really pulled out all the stops to create this special cuvée, modeled after his beloved white Burgundy. He started with perfectly ripened Chardonnay grapes from prime Languedoc sites. After a gentle pressing – key to preserving delicate flavors and silky texture – he carefully escorted the “juice” back to his winery in Bordeaux (Le Chai au Quai – “a fabulous venture” says Decanter). And that’s where the magic happened … Taking further cues from Burgundy, Mark partially fermented the wine in older French oak barrels, then treated part of it to a brief, oak-barrel slumber – this adds a creamy, spicy richness to the wine’s vibrant citrus flavors, all framed by a refreshing streak of minerality. Le Chai au Quai is a boutique winery like no other - a haven of creativity and innovation. It lies within a grand 19th century cellar in a magical spot on the banks of the Dordogne in Castillon, just a stone’s throw from the medieval town of Saint-Émilion. With no vineyards attached, the winery has the ultimate freedom to buy grapes from wherever it chooses - wherever, in fact, it finds the finest quality. It is because we’re not tied down to our own vineyards that we’re able to explore and discover the best grapes around Bordeaux and all over France. The wines at Le Chai au Quai are meticulously crafted all the way into bottle - even those special parcels we’ve unearthed, miles away in the south, are carefully brought back to Le Chai au Quai for maximum TLC and finishing ... often in the finest oak barrels. This is a wine studio like no other - a haven of creativity and innovation; a real winemaker’s kitchen where no rule is held as sacred and traditional boundaries are blurred with dramatic and exciting results. Exploration, innovation and dedication are what motivates our winemaking. You’ll find three distinct ranges of wines from our studio cellar: Le Grand Chai wines - select cuvees of Bordeaux from some of the finest appellations, meticulously finished at Le Chai; Le Chai au Quai wines - unique, often rule-breaking masterpieces using stand-out grapes from southern France; les Negoces - special Bordeaux wines from individual family estates, selected for their remarkable quality.