Vignes aux Dames is one of François’ finest parcels and among the most renowned in the Château-Chalon appellation. This exceptional Savagnin comes from a 0.75-hectare vineyard, planted in 1947 on clay and marl soils, perched on a south-facing slope. After hand-harvesting, the grapes were gently pressed and transferred to old oak barrels, aged on the lees for 40 months. During élevage, the barrels were irregularly topped up, mostly in the warmer months, imparting a subtle oxidative character that contributes to the incredible complexity found in all of François’ white wines. The 2022 vintage was a solar year with full phenolic ripeness, balancing the terroir’s characteristic minerality with a gentle “memory of sugar.” Bottled by hand, barrel by barrel, without fining, filtration, or the addition of sulphur.