Armand Heitz Chardonnay Vin de France, Burgundy, France

Description

Pale gold with green highlights, delicate citrus blossom, and fresh orchard fruit rise from the glass, setting the tone for 2023 Domaine Heitz-Lochardet – Armand Heitz Bourgogne Chardonnay. Crafted as a wine of sharing and conviviality, this Chardonnay reflects the estate’s forward-thinking philosophy and commitment to living soils. Produced from schist, marl, and limestone vineyards and matured carefully on lees, it offers freshness, minerality, and balance in a style designed for immediacy and purity.

Product Details:

• Winemaker & Owner: Armand Heitz
• Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Appellation: Vin de France
• Alcohol: 13%
• Average Yield: 45 hl/ha
• Soil: Schist, marl, and limestone
• Farming: Sustainable viticulture with regenerative and permaculture principles
• Maturation: 7 months on lees in stainless steel tanks
• Cellaring Potential: 1–2 years

Sensory Description:

The 2023 vintage opens with aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and subtle white flowers. On the palate, it delivers a clean, fresh attack supported by bright acidity and a gently rounded texture from lees aging. The interplay of schist and limestone soils contributes a mineral backbone that carries through to a saline, focused finish. In a vintage marked by balanced warmth and preserved freshness, this Chardonnay shows expressive energy without heaviness. Stainless steel maturation preserves primary fruit clarity, allowing the wine’s natural tension and elegance to shine.

Winemaker’s Background:

Armand Heitz approaches viticulture with what he calls “common sense peasant” philosophy, emphasizing regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and the revitalization of living soils. By integrating cover crops, composting, mulching, and mixed livestock farming, the estate strives for a balanced, circular ecosystem with minimal environmental impact. In the cellar, Armand follows a non-interventionist approach inspired by classic Burgundian thought, allowing terroir and vintage character to lead. Through collaboration and research, including work alongside friend and oenologist Nicolas Dutour, he continuously refines practices to anticipate future climatic challenges while preserving Burgundy’s heritage.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 10–12°C in a medium-sized white wine glass to highlight its freshness and minerality. Ideal with pan-seared sea bass, seasonal vegetable gratins, mushroom risotto, fresh goat cheese, or light poultry dishes. Avoid over-chilling to preserve its aromatic nuance.