60% Marsanne & 40% Roussanne
Aurlien Chatagnier founded his own domaine in 2002, when he was just in his early 20s. He doesnt come from a winemaking family, but as a teenager, he worked in the vines for Domaine Jamet, where he became inspired to learn more about winemaking. He worked for several years with Franois Villard, who eventually pushed him to head out on his own. Starting with just over one hectare of rented vines, Aurlien has steadily built up a domaine of almost 10 hectares by purchasing, bartering, and replanting vineyards around the town of Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf at the northern extreme of the Saint-Joseph appellation. The vineyards are rooted predominantly in granite soils and are very steep. He makes a beautifully lean and pure stlye of Rhone.
Many whites from Saint-Joseph can be heavy, though Chatagnier’s is surprisingly bright, fresh, and marked by good acidity. The Marsanne comes from a parcel in Ardoix, while the Roussanne comes from Limony.
Both parcels were planted in the 1990s; Low temperature press, settling, and fermentation. Natural yeast fermentation in barrel. 8-10 months aging in the same wood. White peach, lemon curd, honeysuckle, and crushed stone, medium-bodied palate with a lingering mineral finish.
