Cellier Saint-Benoit Arbois-Pupillin 'La Marcette' Chardonnay

Benjamin Benoit is a newcomer to the Jura wine scene who’s already making quite the splash. Just over 30, he’s young but deeply passionate — one of those people who goes all-in on everything they do, and whose dedication shows in the precision and brilliance of the wines. His Chardonnay was the standout for both Chris and Jess. ‘La Marquette’ is Benoit’s most classical expression of Jura Chardonnay — a study in tension and mineral depth that bridges old world and new, and a reminder that Jura’s Chardonnays belong in the same conversation as Burgundy’s greats (not surprising, given Benoit’s training in Burgundy with producers like Arnoux-Lachaux and Amélie Berthaut). It definitely benefits from air or a little time in bottle, but is easily one of the best Chardonnays we tried this month.

We love it with… Comté, roasted chicken, grilled herb-stuffed trout

Type: White
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750mL
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Arbois-Pupillin, Alagni, Jura, France
Vinification: Farmed sustainably, some organic practices. Pressed with whole clusters in vertical oak press, settled 24-hours, ambient yeast fermentation, aged for 9 months in used barrels.

For the nerds: Planted in 1982. The fruit here comes from two neighboring parcels in the south of Pupillin. The first is flat and curves from northwest to southwest. The second is gently sloped (about 10% incline) and faces north, 335 m elevation. Triassic marl soils.