L’Étoile Chardonnay (2020) - Domaine Rolet
The name "L’Étoile" comes from the presence of starfish-shaped fossils in the soil, which are characteristic of the Jura region. Domaine Rolet is one of the historic wineries of the Jura, renowned for the quality of its wines and for showcasing the local terroir.
L’Étoile Chardonnay (2020) - Domaine Rolet
Type: Vino Bianco
Appellation: Étoile AOC
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2020
Winery: Domaine Rolet
Alcohol: 13
The appellation: Étoile AOC
L’Étoile AOC is one of the most prestigious appellations in the Jura, a French wine region known for its unique and fascinating wines. Located around the village of L’Étoile, this appellation owes its name both to the star-shaped arrangement of the five hills surrounding the area and to the star-shaped fossils found in its limestone soils, a legacy of an ancient prehistoric sea.
Find out more about Étoile AOCWhat to eat with L’Étoile Chardonnay
Who makes it: Domaine Rolet
Founded in 1942, Domaine Rolet is one of the best-known estates in the Jura region, famous for making authentic, long-lived wines. The winery combines traditional and modern techniques to bring out the unique character of the area’s native varieties. Thanks to an extraordinary terroir and viticulture that respects nature, Domaine Rolet offers wines of strong personality, with particular attention to longevity and aromatic complexity.
Find out more about Domaine RoletThe vine of L’Étoile 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 moreL’Étoile Chardonnay: the area
L’Étoile
L’Étoile is one of the most distinctive appellations of the Jura wine region, located in the French department of the Jura, near the town of Lons-le-Saunier. This small but prestigious area is renowned for producing white wines of great elegance and character, made mainly from the Savagnin, Chardonnay and, to a lesser extent, Poulsard varieties. The name "L'Étoile" comes from the crinoid fossils, ancient star-shaped marine organisms, found in the limestone and clay soils of the area. These unique soils, combined with the cool, continental climate, give the wines a pronounced minerality and an extraordinary ability to age.
Find out more about L’ÉtoileClimate: Continental
Altitude: Low to mid altitude (200–500 m above sea level)
Soil: Limestone / chalk
Geographical setting: Hilly
Profile of L’Étoile Chardonnay
Primary aromas: White flowers, apple, citrus
Secondary aromas: Butter, hazelnut
Tertiary aromas: Notes of delicate spices and minerality
Tasting notes: An elegant, complex Chardonnay. On the nose, notes of apple and citrus stand out, accompanied by nuances of butter and hazelnut. On the palate it is fresh, with a vibrant acidity and a minerality typical of the L’Étoile terroir, accompanied by an enveloping structure and a long finish.
| Sulphites | yes |
| Body | Enveloping |
| Acidity | high |
| Tannin | no |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Finish | Long |
| Colour | Golden yellow with luminous highlights |
| Clarity | Clear |
| Body | Medium |
Winemaking methods used for L’Étoile Chardonnay
Hand harvesting
Hand harvesting is a traditional, painstaking approach to picking, where bunches are selected and cut by hand straight from the vine. Compared with machine harvesting it allows far closer attention to quality, since only the best bunches are chosen and the fruit is not damaged.
Find out moreMalolactic fermentation
Malolactic fermentation is a fundamental process in winemaking, particularly used for quality white, red and sparkling wines. This method plays a key role in determining the flavour and aromatic profile of many wines, helping to make them softer, more complex and suited to long ageing.
Find out moreSoft 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 L’Étoile Chardonnay
In cask (7–18 months)
Ageing in cask for between 7 and 18 months is a classic but measured approach to maturing wine. Large casks, usually Slavonian oak or untoasted French oak, allow natural micro-oxygenation, which helps the wine settle, knit together and develop a more complex, harmonious profile. This kind of ageing is widely used for terroir-driven reds and for some structured whites that are after depth without the aromatic intensity a barrique would give.
Find out more