Les Cortis Vin de France Mérune Blanc 2022

Mérune is the first of Les Cortis’ white blends – combining Chardonnay and Altesse from two small plots near Bugey. The Les Bovettes and La Côte sit at 280 and 330 metres respectively, and while the former is home to 25-year-old Chardonnay vines, the latter is planted to 45– to 75-year-old Altesse, Chardonnay and Gamay. Both sites have deep, silty, rocky soils. The breakdown is 80/20 Chardonnay and Altesse, and the wine matures for eight months in fibreglass tanks after fermentation. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulphur. Decoster has a particular affinity for this “lemony and very seductive wine that always has something lovely to tell us”.