DOMAINE FRANÇOIS LUMPP

This dynamic 9.5-hectare property is generally recognised as the finest in the village. François and Isabelle Lumpp founded the domaine in 1991, with no inherited vines, and have now been joined by their children, Pierre and Anne-Cécile. The vineyards are planted with the finest materials and very close spacing. Viticulture is fanatical and yields are kept very low. They work as organically as possible during the early part of the growing season and employ limited doses of conventional treatments later on, to avoid tractor usage and compaction of their soils. All the grapes are handpicked and there is a further, severe selection prior to vinification. The reds are 100% destemmed and vinified in open-top, stainless steel fermenters. The whites are all vinified throughout in barrel. The whites see 30% new oak and the reds up to 70%. The reds are sublime, pure, poised and beautifully balanced.

Petit Marole from 26–30-year-old vines on clay/limestone soils leans towards roundness and accessibility. A Vigne Rouge from a 2.5-hectare site with fine marl and limestone is deep and brooding. The whites, which are all barrel fermented, are simply stunning and amongst the finest in the Chalonnaise. Petit Marole is more open knit and forward, Crausot, from hard, pure limestone, is intensely pure with chiselled minerality. The range now include two beautiful village wines from Teppe des Cheneves – planted at 400m on pure limestone soils, in the case of the white, and slightly lower, with marginally heavier soils in the case of the red.

www.francoislumpp.com