2020 Michel Gahier, Arbois Blanc Melon "La Fauquette", Jura, France Domaine la Soufrandière Light filtration before bottling on

Light filtration before bottling on July 16

A gorgeous

and a pop of raspberry acidity combine to deliver a refreshing and summery spirit

framed by subtle phenolics and finished Extra Brut to keep the architecture crisp

I found the 2020s just as compelling as they were last year

2020 Michel Gahier, Arbois Blanc Melon "La Fauquette", Jura, France Domaine la Soufrandière Light filtration before bottling onThis cuve, again from a single vineyard in Montigny, is aged for one year in large foudres at which point it is then racked into smaller barrel for an additional three years sous voile. Called Chardonnay, the vines are of the local variety known as Melon Queue Rouge, a white grape the skin color of which bleeds towards red as it approaches the stem.