Chardonnay (2023) - Les Gardes
Les Gardes is a young label that favours simple, direct wines, made for everyday drinking without compromising on quality. The screw cap guarantees freshness, practicality and reduced oxidative impact.
Chardonnay (2023) - Les Gardes
Type: Vino Bianco
Appellation: Vin de France
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2023
Winery: Les Gardes
Alcohol: 12
The appellation: Vin de France
Vin de France is the broadest and most flexible category in the French wine classification, allowing producers to create wines without specific geographical restrictions and with greater freedom in the choice of grape varieties and winemaking techniques. Introduced in 2009 to replace the "Vin de Table" category, Vin de France allows producers to blend grapes from different French regions, without having to comply with the strict rules of the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) or the Indications Géographiques Protégées (IGP). This allows greater experimentation, giving rise to wines that can be modern, innovative and accessible.
Find out more about Vin de FranceWhat to eat with Chardonnay
Who makes it: Les Gardes
Les Gardes is a small wine estate in the Loire Valley, in France, born of a passion for natural wines and for farming that respects the land.The project is based on a minimalist approach: no chemicals in the vineyard, spontaneous fermentations, no filtration and reduced or no added sulphur. The aim of Les Gardes is to produce pure, territorial wines that reflect without filters the characteristics of the soil and of the region's native varieties.
Find out more about Les GardesThe vine of Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted and prestigious white grape varieties in the world, originally from Burgundy, in France. Thanks to its great adaptability to different climates and soils, Chardonnay is grown in many wine regions, expressing unique characteristics according to the terroir and the winemaking style.
Find out moreChardonnay: the Saumur area
Saumur
Saumur is a prestigious wine area in the heart of the Loire Valley, in France, famous for its traditional-method sparkling wines, elegant reds and mineral whites.The town of Saumur and its surroundings stretch along the left bank of the Loire, on limestone tuffeau soils, a porous rock that helps give the wines finesse, freshness and the ability to age. The area enjoys a temperate oceanic climate, with continental influences, perfect for growing Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, the two grape varieties that symbolise this terroir.
Find out more about SaumurClimate: Oceanic
Altitude: Low Altitude (0-200 m above sea level)
Soil: Limestone / chalk
Geographical setting: River
Profile of Chardonnay
Primary aromas: Green apple, pear, Lemon, grapefruit, Meadow flowers and fresh herbs
Secondary aromas: Mineral notes (chalk, wet stone) and A very light hint of almond
Tasting notes: The Chardonnay Tappo Vite 2023 from Les Gardes is a fresh, direct, everyday white. In the mouth it is nimble, with crisp acidity and a clean, savoury finish. Perfect for anyone looking for a no-frills Chardonnay, with plenty of drinkability and fruity-mineral character. Serve chilled to accompany starters or summer lunches.
| Sulphites | yes |
| Body | Light and lean |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannin | Absent |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Finish | Short to medium, on citrus and stone |
| Colour | Pale straw yellow |
| Clarity | Clear |
| Body | Light |
Winemaking methods used for Chardonnay
Soft pressing
Soft pressing is a gentle winemaking technique, used to extract the must from the grapes with the least possible pressure. This method makes it possible to obtain a high-quality must, free of excessive phenolic or tannic substances, ideal for producing elegant white, rosé and red wines.
Find out moreTemperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel
Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel is a technique that makes it possible to produce fresh, fruity, clean wines, preserving the varietal aromas of the grapes at their best.
Find out moreAgeing methods used for Chardonnay
In stainless steel
Ageing in stainless steel is a winemaking practice aimed at preserving the freshness, aromatic integrity and varietal purity of the wine. It is used above all for white, rosé and young red wines, but also for light, easy-drinking reds that do not require maturation in wood. Stainless steel vessels are inert and impermeable to oxygen, so they do not interact with the wine: this makes it possible to bring out the fruity, floral and mineral component of the grape and of the terroir.
Find out moreIn bottle
Ageing in bottle is a fundamental stage in the production of quality wines, during which the wine continues to develop in an oxygen-free environment. This process allows the wine to harmonise its components, soften the tannins and develop more complex, mature aromas, without the external influence of wood or other materials.Ageing in bottle can last from a few months to several years, depending on the type of wine and the style sought, and is particularly used for structured red wines, long-lived whites and metodo classico sparkling wines, improving their elegance, finesse and length on the palate.
Find out more