2018 Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat Chardonnay Victor de la Combe Vin de France Blanc (L1821CH)

La Combe; a tiny hamlet above the village of Rotalier is home to the larger-than-life “Fan Fan” Jean-François Ganevat. Jean-François came back to run the family estate in 1998 after ten years working Burgundy and he combines his passion for the Jura terroir – here ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - with a staunch defence of Burgundian techniques; low yields and most recently biodynamic methods for which he has now gained Demeter certification.

In addition to the ‘Estate’ wines there are, since 2013, a group of wines made from grapes purchased from around the region and in others, all are grown by their vigneron friends to their standards, so organic or bio-dynamically farmed and tended. They pay very high prices to get the quality they want. Each of these necogiant wine are made on the property by Jean-François and his small team; from grapes into wine, and have the same Ganevat precision, levity and exquisite texture despite the differing origins of the grapes.

Victor de la Combe is a 100% Chardonnay cuvée from old vines grown in the Mâcon region on slopes of limestone marls with very shallow soil. After direct pressing, this non-oxidative cuvée (made using ouillage or ‘topping up’ of the barrels) was fermented with indigenous yeasts then matured on its lees in large barrels for three years in a humid cellar. As always there are no additions.