2022 Domaine de la Borde - Jura Arbois Pupillin Terre du Lias Chardonnay (750ml)

Julien Maréschal founded Domaine de la Borde in 2003 at age twenty-one, buying his first vines in Pupillin, a village made famous in natural wine circles by the legendary Pierre Overnoy. He now farms five hectares organically and has been transitioning toward biodynamics since around 2012, tending each plot individually and giving every wine the name of its specific vineyard site, a practice that reflects his close attention to the region's varied terroir.

Terre du Lias grows on a steep, southwest-facing slope of blue Jurassic marl at around four hundred and fifty meters, a soil type notably different from the limestone typical of nearby Burgundy. The grapes are hand-harvested and partially destemmed, then fermented in large oak barrels and old foudres using only native yeasts. The wine ages on its fine lees for about a year, topped up regularly to protect against oxidation and preserve the fruit's natural freshness.

The result is a gleaming gold Chardonnay balancing richness and tension, with aromas of golden melon, quince, and wildflower honey layered over a faintly saline, oxidative Jura character. The texture is silky and savory, finishing with flinty minerality and warm spice. It pairs beautifully with poultry, mushrooms, or firm, salty cheeses.