Description
Tasting room
The pretty village of Alaigne is west of the city of Carcasssonne and near the town of Limoux. From 25 hectares of vines, planted at an altitude of 350 to 450 metres, Philippe Girard makes some superb fresh Chardonnays, that benefit from a cooler and longer ripening period.
The vineyard has been in the family for four generations. Previously the grapes were sold to the cooperative, and it has only been since 2000 that Philippe has been producing his own wines. A few years ago they built a spanking-new chais, with temperature-controlled fermentation vats. We have been shipping his wonderful Malepère reds for a number of years.
He practises Agriculture Raisonnée, using the absolute minimum of pesticides and chemicals on his vines. Frequently Chardonnays from the South of France are too ripe and lack acidity, tending to be big, bland and flabby. What a contrast these two wines make! Being near to the foothills of the Pyrenees the vineyards are much cooler, with the grapes ripening more slowly and evenly, producing wines are that are concentrated, elegant and long, but with zippy acidity..
This lovely trio give all of the pleasure of good Southern white Burgundy at a much more affordable price.
A Mixed 6-bottle case contains two bottles of each of –
Domaine Girard, Chardonnay Tradition 2023
IGP d’Oc
The first of these Chardonnays is vinified in stainless steel and then left on the lees for three months to intensify the flavours.
It has a greenish tinge to the colour with a wonderful fresh nose of green apples and honey. On the palate there is mouthwatering, honeyed apple-strudel fruit which is concentrated with hints of cloves and cinnamon. The finish is crisp and long.
Gorgeous unadulterated Chardonnay!
Domaine Girard, Chardonnay Elevé sur lies fines 2023
IGP d’Oc
At an altitude of 350 metres, this wine is vinified in 500L barrels, of which 40% are new and 60% are 1-3 years old. The wine is then left on the lees for several months to enhance the texture and complexity.
Pale lemon in colour, there is an attractive yeasty/biscuity nose. It has lovely mouthfeel with good concentration of juicy, ripe fruit, a hint of vanilla, lovely acidity and good length.
For all the world, like a good Saint Véran from Burgundy.
Domaine Girard Chardonnay Las Salvios 2022
AOP Limoux
The vines for this wine come from a tiny parcel in the adjacent area of Limoux, which has its own appellation. The slopes are at an even higher altitude of 450 metres. The vines are older, the grapes are hand-picked and the yields are lower.
This is vinified in a similar way, but 80% of the oak barrels are new each year to match the higher quality of the fruit. Unusually for this region, it undergoes a secondary malolactic fermentation – as in Burgundy – which adds complexity and softens the mouthfeel.
It has a little more colour. The nose is toasty and riper. The texture is buttery and creamy, and flavours of exotic and crystallised fruits mingle to end with a savoury finish. There is gentle acidity and great length.
Very much a Pouilly Fuissé is style – but at a fraction of the price!
