Cellier Saint Benoit Arbois Pupillin Chambines Ploussard 2022

. Wedged between the lieux-dits of La Rouge and Les Charots, the red, chalky/clay soils of Les Chambines produced Benjamin’s lightest-coloured and most delicate Ploussard. At 0.6 hectares, Les Chambines is also Benjamin’s largest lieu-dit for this variety.  The steep slope, planted in the mid-1980s, reaches 40 degrees in some places, meaning this vineyard must be ploughed by horse. Facing more to the west, the wine is bottled at around 10.5 to 11% of potential alcohol in most years, but 2022 was an atypical year where the wine reached the giddy heights of 12%! The fruit was manually destemmed, and the wine underwent spontaneous fermentation and maturation in a steel vat. Les Chambines takes us to the more gossamer side of Ploussard—all lacy red currants and pomegranate fruit shot through with dainty spice and a glade of refreshing acidity. A touch of complex earth and something ‘animal’ as well in the 2022.