Chardonnay - Hohfels

The Chardonnay from the Machtum Hohfels site impressively shows how this grape variety has evolved at Jean-Marc over the years. For a long time Chardonnay was mainly used for Crémant at the estate but with increasing ripeness and quality of the grapes new possibilities arose. For Jean-Marc it was a natural step to develop selected parcels as still wine and from this idea came the 2018 vintage from Hohfels a shell limestone site that gives the wine its clear mineral line.​ He aged the wine for several months in a 500 liter wooden barrel. Jean-Marc emphasizes that this barrel was deliberately chosen larger than a classic barrique with a similar but finer effect. The wood should not shape the wine but accompany it bringing structure and gentle creaminess without overlaying the fruit or origin. For him the large barrel works like a quiet frame in which the natural tension of the wine can unfold.​ In the glass the Chardonnay appears calm and precise. The minerality of the shell limestone forms the foundation while the barrel weaves in light buttery nuances that soften the wine but never make it heavy. The finish is long and clear accompanied by a fine salty trace that Jean-Marc describes as typical of his soil. He sees this wine as an example of the balance he strives for fruit wood and soil should harmonize without any element dominating.​ For food pairings Jean-Marc particularly recommends fish dishes. The freshness and minerality pair excellently with seafood or shellfish carrying intense aromas without overpowering them. The wine remains always elegant making it versatile. The Hohfels Chardonnay 2018 shows Jean-Marc the direction in which the variety is moving in the region. The warmth of the vintage the precision of the shell limestone and the conscious fine oak use create a wine that is already open today but has enough depth to develop further in the coming years.​