All wines
Boris· Lo Kyiv
Domaine de la Tournelle
Terre de Gryphées
2002
3.8
Region
France › Jura › Arbois › Arbois AOC
Type
white · still
Grapes
Chardonnay
Alcohol
12.5%
Volume
750 mL
Tasting Notes(1)
3.8
An unexpectedly engaging experience unfolds in this bottle, which carries more than 20 years of history. The wine's character has deepened with age, revealing pronounced oxidation and a developed some complexity. The fruit is sparse - barely perceptible except as dried, almost grilled nuances, perhaps reminiscent of a slightly bruised-smeared yellow apple. Instead, it leans on nutty, salty pickle qualities with a subtle nod to Fino Jerez. On the palate, balanced acidity and a hint of minerality keep the structure intact. It feels a bit weary now though.
About
Terre de Gryphées is the entry-level Chardonnay of Domaine de la Tournelle - 100% Chardonnay from two parcels on the grey Liassic marl, marnes grises layer carrying the fossil oyster Gryphaea that gives the cuvée its name. Vines around twenty to thirty years old at the time. Hand-harvested at 35-40 hl/ha, whole-cluster pneumatic press, indigenous yeasts, no SO2. Alcoholic fermentation begins in tank and finishes in 228-litre pièces or demi-muid, no new oak. Aged sous bois, ouillé on fine lees for a minimum of twenty-four months. Bottling per the Maria Thun lunar calendar. 12.5% ABV. 2002 in the Jura was a generally well-regarded year, the cooler counterpoint to the 2003 heatwave that followed.
