Domaine de la Cras, Coteaux de Dijon Blanc 2022

Domaine de la Cras Coteaux de Dijon Blanc 2022 is a refined Chardonnay from the northern reaches of Burgundy, just outside the historic city of Dijon. It offers a beautifully focused, mineral-driven style that highlights freshness, precision and a clear sense of place. As one of the key names helping to revive the long-overlooked Coteaux de Dijon appellation, this wine bridges Burgundy tradition with a more contemporary, terroir-focused approach.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the Coteaux de Dijon Blanc 2022 shows a pale lemon color with green reflections, signaling its youth and vibrant acidity. The nose is clean and expressive, with notes of citrus zest, green apple and white peach layered over hints of chalk, white flowers and a touch of hazelnut or fresh brioche as it opens in the glass. On the palate, this Chardonnay is precise and energetic rather than heavily oaked, with a taut core of lemon, crunchy pear and stone fruit supported by a clear saline, stony character. The texture is fine and linear, carried by bright acidity and a long, mouthwatering finish that emphasizes minerality over richness. Enjoyable now for its purity and freshness, it also has the structure to develop additional complexity over the next 3–6 years, gaining more nutty and honeyed nuances with careful cellaring.

Production
The vineyards of Domaine de la Cras lie on limestone-rich slopes overlooking Dijon, in a cool, windswept sector of Burgundy that naturally favors freshness and aromatic intensity in Chardonnay. Thin soils over hard limestone and marl encourage deep root systems and limit yields, concentrating flavor while preserving tension. Grapes are typically picked by hand to ensure careful selection and to bring in the fruit at optimal ripeness with lively acidity. In the cellar, the focus is on a gentle, low-intervention approach: careful pressing, fermentation in tank and/or neutral vessels, and a measured élevage that may include older oak, all designed to add texture without masking the purity of the fruit or the signature minerality of the Coteaux de Dijon terroir.

Food & Serving
This Coteaux de Dijon Blanc 2022 is a versatile food wine that shines alongside delicately prepared dishes. It pairs beautifully with oysters, shellfish, and simply grilled fish, as well as goat cheese, fresh cheeses, poultry in light cream sauces, or vegetable dishes featuring fennel, asparagus or leeks. Serve well-chilled but not icy, ideally around 10–12°C, to allow the aromatics and texture to fully express themselves. Decanting is not essential, but a brief 15–20 minutes in a carafe or in the glass can help the wine open up and reveal additional layers of fruit and minerality.

Producer
Domaine de la Cras is a relatively young but highly regarded estate on the outskirts of Dijon, created to showcase the potential of the historic Coteaux de Dijon vineyards that long remained in the shadow of more famous Burgundian appellations further south. The domaine has become a standard-bearer for the revival of this area, emphasizing sustainable viticulture and precise, terroir-driven winemaking. By focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that express the cool climate and limestone soils of the hills above Dijon, Domaine de la Cras has helped put the Coteaux de Dijon back on the map, earning attention from sommeliers and Burgundy lovers who seek character, authenticity and value beyond the classic names.