Du Vin à l'Âme - Imagine

Imagine is a Chardonnay with a difference, from Caroline and Alexandre Savoye Stehly, a young husband-and-wife estate in Gleizé, in the heart of Beaujolais. Their first vintage was only in 2023, but they’re already turning heads with their organic and biodynamic approach and their low-intervention winemaking. Imagine comes from the Beaujolais Pierres Dorées appellation, the “golden stones” country, where the limestone and stony soils give white wines real definition. What sets this wine apart is the winemaking. Instead of a conventional white wine fermentation, the Chardonnay undergoes a 13-day carbonic maceration, a technique more commonly associated with Beaujolais reds. The wine is then aged in a stoneware jar, which allows it to breathe gently without the influence of oak. It’s an unusual, expressive way to work with a grape many people think they already know. The result is a white with presence: concentrated, deep and gourmand, with a texture and character that sets it apart from the typical Chardonnay. It’s organic, made with minimal sulphur and bottled with care, and it should appeal to adventurous drinkers who enjoy Burgundian-style whites but want something a little more distinctive. Serve it cool rather than ice cold to appreciate its depth.