Domaine Jean Manciat Macon-Charnay Chardonnay 2024

From the highly-regarded Les Crays vineyard, this is 100% Chardonnay aged in barrel for about 9 months with regular bâtonnage. It has a fruit-driven nose of ripe peach, yellow apple, lemon curd and fairly prominent sandalwood and warm spices. The palate is rich and ripe, with similar orchard fruit and spiciness. There is a real creaminess supported by a fine flinty minerality. Drinking beautifully now, but could benefit from another year or two in bottle to allow the wood and fruit to integrate further.