The Terres de Velle story is a good one, too. After a decade as winemaker for the négociant Alex Gambal, Fabrice and his wife, Sophie, founded Terres de Velle in 2009. They acquired an assortment of well-placed, but not well cared-for, vineyards—about six hectares across 11 appellations—and set about reviving them. This was no small task: these were chemically treated, rarely plowed sites with lots of missing vines, and they spent several years replanting, re-training, and converting to organic farming (with a few biodynamic practices mixed in). They finished their winery building in 2011, transferring wines from tank to barrel using gravity flow and initiating fermentations with only native yeasts. 

This Bourgogne Chardonnay blends the fruit from Les Pellans with a smaller percentage from Corpeau, a clay-rich plain to the east of Puligny. It was aged for one year in French oak (10% of which was new) and was then transferred back to stainless steel for 6 months of natural settling (to avoid filtration). They then bottle the wines according to the lunar calendar.

The 2014 shows off the forwardness of the vintage, combining some of the lush creaminess of Meursault with the citrus twang of Puligny. In the glass, it is a light golden straw yellow with green hues on the rim. The aromatics are deep and satisfying, with notes of yellow apple, pear, fresh cream, white flowers, citrus pith, wet stones, oyster and a subtle kiss of oak. It is nicely textured, medium-bodied and well-balanced, with acidity that’s bright, not shrill. The finish is fragrant and crisply mineral. It is just a perfect daily drinker. For best results, throw it in a decanter about a half-hour before serving it in some large Burgundy bowls. Let it come up to about 50 degrees to let more of its aromas and texture blossom. I would love it with a simply prepared piece of white-fleshed fish, maybe snapper or halibut, and some roasted fingerling potatoes—but this is the kind of wine that goes with just about anything. It’s too late to get you some for your Super Bowl party, but whatever your next large gathering may be, this would be a great pick. Enjoy!