Vineyards and winemaking
Signature is selected from mature Melon de Bourgogne vines, including parcels around 50 years old, in the Atlantic-influenced vineyards of Bouaye. Harvesting at full ripeness gives the wine extra breadth while the estate's mineral soils and temperate setting preserve tension.
Whole bunches are gently pressed, followed by cool settling and temperature-controlled fermentation. The 2018 then remained on fine lees in underground tanks for six years, a prolonged élevage that brings creaminess, savoury detail and remarkable stability without sacrificing freshness.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Clear golden yellow with subtle green reflections.
Nose
Yellow peach, pear and preserved lemon are layered with anise, crushed stone and a delicate scent of freshly baked bread.
Palate
Broad and assured, with ripe citrus and stone fruit carried by a firm spine of acidity. The extended lees contact gives a smooth, almost waxy texture, while liquorice, minerals and a saline edge define the long finish.
Food pairing
Pair with scallops in their shells, monkfish with saffron, roast hake with parsley sauce, or goat's-cheese and onion pithivier. Its savoury depth also suits a buttery fish pie made with smoked haddock.
Background story
Domaine du Haut Bourg is a four-generation family estate in Bouaye, south of Nantes, where Hervé and Nicolas Choblet now tend vines around the Lac de Grand-Lieu. The nearby lake, Loire and Atlantic temper the local climate, while mica schist, granite, sand and sedimentary soils give the wines their distinctive texture.
Signature epitomises the Choblets' patient approach to Melon de Bourgogne, using six years on the lees to create complexity usually associated with far more expensive white wines. The 2018 received 17.5 points from Jancis Robinson and is drinking beautifully, with capacity to develop further.
