Antoine Jobard of Domaine Antoine Jobard was recently in Honolulu for the Food & Wine Festival. If you were lucky enough to taste some the wines during the festival, you can now purchase some of these beauties. If you didn't taste the wines at the festival, Chardonnay lovers owe it to themselves to try the wines. Vintage Wine Cellar now has a nice selection of these wines in small quantities.
Jobard is known for its fabulous Chardonnays from St Aubin, Puligny Montrachet and Meursault. Meursault is what Jobard is known for (although the Bourgogne Blanc is one of the best around), and while Jobard doesn't have the universal following and praise as some of the appellation's finest - e.g. Coche Dury, Lafon, Roulot - it rightfully is one of Meursault's best producers. According to its USA importer Kermit Lynch, Jobard has the respect and admiration from many of its peers in the region including Coche Dury and Ravenau.
Generally Jobard's whites are lean, mineral laced, structured and austere in their youth, but open up with some aging. Antoine, along with the conditions of recent vintages like 2023 (2023 Meursault was singing when I tasted it), has relieved the early austere phase; the wines are now more approachable in their youth. There is very little new wood used and the wines are transparent and precise. Extended sur lie aging adds to the depth, power and aging potential.
Jobard's wines are classic, elegant, energetic white Burgundies that exude precision, focus, minerality while being generous with fruit. There are not enough superlatives for the wines. They are a benchmark in Meursault and white Burgundy. And they are hard to find so when an offering like this comes about, take advantage!
All wines are in limited quantities.
2021 Bourgogne Aligoté — $70.992022 Bourgogne Aligoté — $70.99 Jobard's Bourgogne Aligoté are known for its classic, flinty profile that is structured to age. Sourced from old vines, fermented and aged in a combination of old barrels and stainless steel. Often described with classic Burgundian character, featuring citrus and stone fruit notes. Its high acidity makes it refreshing, lively and food friendly.
2022 Bourgogne Blanc — $89.992023 Bourgogne Blanc — $89.99 This entry-level appellation wine punches well above its weight, often described as "essentially declassified Meursault" due to its quality and sourcing from prime sites just outside the village boundaries. It is a benchmark for affordable elegance in Burgundy whites, earning praise from critics and peers for its precision, minimality, and aging potential. Lean yet textured with stone fruit - peach and apricot - bright citrus acidity, and a creamy mouthfeel. Mineral-driven finish with precision and density.
2023 Meursault — $169.99 Jobard's village level Meursault is a benchmark for the appellation: taut, mineral, precise and age worthy. More laser focused than opulent. It blossoms into hazelnut, white truffle and wet stone when given the chance to breath. It is young, but according to Jobard the vintage was quite generous which explains why this wine is singing at this early stage.
2020 Meursault 1er Poruzots — $231.992022 Meursault 1er Poruzots — $309.992023 Meursault 1er Poruzots — $339.99 In general these wines are muscular and rich with green fruits, citrus zest, and fennel on the nose, evolving to powerful, savory flavors on the palate that include ripe orchard fruit, candied quince, saline mineralogy, and a bitter citrus lift. In their youth, there is much tension and energy. As it matures it becomes nutty and honeyed with vigor.
2022 Meursault Charmes — $314.99The most seductive and complete Charmes Jobard has made in a decade - opulent yet electric, with a peacock tail finish that lasts for minutes! A unicorn 2022 white Burgundy: ripe, rich, but never heavy. Silk sheets with laser acidity with peach, lemon curd, white flowers, wet limestone and toasted hazelnut. It has tension. It is creamy. It is electric. Pure class. If you love Coche Dury and Lafon, you will love this.
2021 Meursault Genvrieres — $689.99
