2024 Bourgogne Blanc, Domaine Antoine Jobard

Chardonnay is arguably the most versatile white grape variety in the world. Grown globally and beloved for its adaptability, it can produce wines that range from crisp and mineral to rich and opulent. It thrives in a wide range of soils but performs best in limestone-rich terroirs, such as those found in Chablis, Champagne, and the Côte d'Or.

In the Burgundy hierarchy, “Bourgogne” denotes the entry level of the classification system. This is a so-called “regional” appellation, theoretically covering the entire vineyard area of Burgundy. This is distinct from the more geographically precise village-level, Premier Cru and Grand Cru designations. The two most common Bourgogne-level wines are Bourgogne Blanc (“White Burgundy”) and Bourgogne Rouge (“Red Burgundy”).

This white-wine focused domaine is renowned for its steely, taut Meursault. Antoine joined his father, François, here in 2002. He assumed sole charge in ’07, after his father’s 50th vintage. Initially, any changes were minimal. Now, there’s a clear move towards earlier bottling, with two winters in barrel no longer seen as the yardstick. This is both a stylistic choice and a response to warmer and earlier harvests. All decisions are now taken with a view towards greater flexibility, allowing more or less reduction from barrel age as required.