Description
Product Description: A monopole Chardonnay rethinking what Burgundy can be. The 2022 Domaine de la Cras ‘Cras’ Monopole Bourgogne Blanc comes from an extraordinary project just outside Dijon, where winemaker Marc Soyard is rewriting the rules of regional Burgundy. Grown on the steepest, best-exposed section of the estate’s Chardonnay plantings, this wine reflects precision farming and a low-intervention approach learned from Soyard’s years at Domaine Bizot in Vosne-Romanee. Fermented with native yeasts and aged for at least 18 months in both new and seasoned barrels, ‘Cras’ Blanc is complex yet energetic. It’s unmistakably Burgundy, yet distinct—mineral, saline, and textural, with a kind of nervy freshness that speaks of marl, limestone, and elevation. Dijon may be known for Pinot, but this proves Chardonnay deserves just as much attention here. Pair it with grilled trout, aged Comte or roast chicken with tarragon. Drink now or cellar for five years. Maker Domaine de la Cras sits high on a plateau between Dijon, Plombieres-les-Dijon, and Corcelles-les-Monts — 160 hectares of mixed agricultural land, including eight of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The estate was purchased by the Greater Dijon region in 2013 to protect the city’s green belt, curb urban sprawl, and support working peri-urban agriculture. Management of the vineyard was entrusted to the Cote-d’Or Chamber of Agriculture, which in turn handed the keys to Marc Soyard — a young, Jura-born winemaker with no family vines but an impeccable pedigree. Soyard’s path ran through Vosne-Romanee, where six years at Domaine Bizot honed his skills as both vineyard manager and cellar hand under Jean-Yves Bizot. At Domaine de la Cras, he lives on site, tending the vines and making wines in his own name under a unique arrangement — paying rent to the city in bottles. Alongside the estate holdings, he also farms two small parcels of Pinot Noir in the Cote d’Or under his personal label. Philosophy From the outset, Soyard has farmed Domaine de la Cras organically, with selective biodynamic practices woven in. His winemaking follows the restrained, natural approach learned at Bizot — native yeast ferments, minimal sulphur, and whole-cluster work tailored to the vintage. Maturation is patient and traditional, often in a mix of new and seasoned barrels, with measured trials in chestnut and acacia alongside French oak. The estate’s official classification is Bourgogne AOC, but it uniquely holds the right to label wines as Coteaux de Dijon — a title Soyard uses with purpose. Lower-lying parcels form the fresher, more approachable Coteaux cuvee, while the steeper, better-exposed slopes yield the more structured Cras bottling after an extended elevage. For Soyard, the philosophy is simple: keep intervention low, connection to place high, and let the plateau’s rare terroir speak clearly in the glass. Tasting Notes NOSE – Bright and savoury Lemon zest, salted butter, white flowers and a touch of struck match. PALATE – Textural and layered Juicy citrus and yellow apple over a mineral frame with well-integrated oak. FINISH – Long and chalky Saline acidity with lingering notes of hazelnut and citrus pith. Finer Details: Style – White Wine Varietal – Chardonnay Country – France Region – Burgundy (Coteaux de Dijon, Bourgogne AOC) Vintage – 2022 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13% Closure – Cork
