2023 Domaine Jean Fery, La Come Des Amoureuses Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc

Burgundy, France | 100% Chardonnay | 16.5/20 JR

"The Combe of Lovers," this cuvée is sourced from a beautifully sheltered valley nestled between Pernand-Vergelesses and Échevronne. With south and east-facing exposures on predominantly calcareous (limestone) soils, it represents the high-altitude "peace" and tension that the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune is increasingly celebrated for. At a time when the valley floor can struggle with heat, these cooler sites offer the vibrant acidity and mineral focus that Burgundy purists crave.

Julia Harding MW (JancisRobinson.com) describes this 2023 as "delicious, classy, and subtly flinty," awarding it an impressive 16.5/20. The nose is highly expressive, led by refined notes of flint and smoky citrus. On the palate, the wine balances a rich, creamy texture with a light chalky grip and impressive intensity. It is a brilliant combination of freshness and creamy citrus, concluding with a long finish and just a suggestion of oak spice. An under-the-radar white that punches well above its classification.

As with all Jean Fery wines, the winemaking here is high-precision and low-intervention. Certified organic and fermented with ambient yeasts, the wine is raised for 13 months in a thoughtful mosaic of vessels: new and seasoned French oak, Stockinger foudres, and ceramic amphorae. This diverse élevage allows the wine to retain the crystalline purity of its cool-site origins while developing a sophisticated, layered complexity.