Jean-Marc Slque Partition 2016

The 2016 was the first release of this cuve, completing Jean-Marc’s palette of four Pierry single site, single varietal, single vintage wines under the Soliste label. Like all the Soliste wines, this is fermented entirely in oak barrels, and aged under cork (rather than crown cap) on its lees–in this case, for four years before disgorgement. The grapes come from two adjacent south-facing plots named Les Tartires and Les Porgeons, whose current vines were planted in 1990 and 1985 respectively. They grow in the heart of the Pierry slope, right in the middle, with Tartires stretching above Porgeons. The higher site grows in five feet of clay over Campanian chalk, whereas the layer of clay in Porgeons tapers up to a level of less than one foot. This is a great example of what the Cteaux Sud can do with Chardonnay: a wine with ample body and fruit, coupled with superb tension.