*** Winner Best In Show Top 50 Wines in the World Decanter Awards 2021 *** Country: France Region:  Jura Varietal: Chardonnay Vintage: 2013 Colour: White Style: Dry Producer: Domaine Berthet-Bondet  Out of the 18,094 wines tasted from 56 countries, only 50 – or 0.28% of the total tasted – were awarded a prestigious Best in Show medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021. Wines from 17 countries made this year’s Best in Show list, France dominating with 15 of the top 50. Though regions like Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône are well represented, DWWA 2021 included a first Best in Show medal for a ‘Vin Jaune’ – or ‘yellow wine’ – a speciality of the Jura region of eastern France, for Domaine Berthet-Bondet, Château-Chalon 2013. We have anexclusive allocation of just 54 bottles of this wine for Ireland.  “We were lucky enough to have a small but serious cohort of Vins Jaunes entered into this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards” commented the DWWA 2021 judges.  “From the moment when our judges came across this supremely articulate yet typically refined Chateau-Chalon, it was hard to hold it back.  If you’ve never tried Vin Jaune, you couldn’t do better than begin with this 2013.” Made from 100% Savagnin, not to be confused with Sauvignon Blanc, the variety again appears on the Best in Show list in nearby Switzerland, for wine cooperative St. Jodern Kellerei’s  Heida Barrique 2019 from Valais.  Jean Berthet-Bondet has been working his land since 1984. With a humble 15 hectares of 30 year old vines, this estate may well be small but it is steeped in history and heritage. Half of Jean's land is in the Château Chalon appellation which is home to the Savagnin grape, renowned for making the revered Vin Jaune. A unique wine that has seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years, but has always been appreciated by the knowledgeable few. The domain has an area of 15 hectares under organic cultivation, of which 4,5 hectares come under the appellation of Château-Chalon and 10,5 hectares under the appellation of Cotes du Jura. Half of the vines are more than 30 years old, and the other half were planted between 1985 and 1990. These vines often need a lot of care and attention. Mechanisation is difficult and so that means that the majority of the work has to be done by hand, and therefore requires a lot of people. The grapes are manually harvested, and the destemmed grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel tank. Aged for at least 6 years in old oak barrels under a layer of yeasts which allows an oxidative process as the barrels are not topped up. Time: 6 to 7 Years in OakType: French 228 Litre% wine oaked: 100% new oak: None Tasting Note This iconic vin jaune wine has plenty of length on the palate, with appealing notes of spice, nuts, mushrooms, and the typical salinity found in Savagnin grapes. Very persistent on the finish. Food Matching Smoked fish, dishes garnished with garlic and parsley, white meat with a creamy sauce and mushrooms, spicy food (curry) and dishes cooked with cheese (Comté).