Chardonnay as a Testing Ground for Bordeaux
At Château Clarisse in Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, Chardonnay is no longer regarded as a mere curiosity. Five years after the first vines were planted, the grape variety is entering a new phase of development, one that reflects a broader shift taking place across Bordeaux. Faced with faster growing cycles and drier summers, some estates are beginning to rethink their balance without abandoning their own interpretation of the terroir.
On 17 August 2026, Château Clarisse will begin its fifth Chardonnay harvest. The timing itself is significant. The grapes reached optimum ripeness three days earlier than in...
