Introduction:
Founded in 2013 by Céline Brocard — who grew up at Jean-Marc Brocard's estate — and her husband Frédéric, Domaine Gueguen has quickly become one of the most respected small producers in the greater Chablis area. The Côtes Salines is their calling card value wine, grown on the same Kimmeridgian limestone that defines Chablis itself, just outside the official appellation boundary. It drinks well above its classification and price point.

Terroir:
Primarily from southwest-facing vines south of Préhy in Côtes d'Auxerre, with roughly 20% from around Saint-Bris, planted on classic Kimmeridgian limestone — the ancient marine fossil-rich subsoil that runs beneath all the great Chablis vineyards. The name says it all: Côtes Salines means "salty slopes," and the mineral salinity from these soils is the wine's defining characteristic. Vines average 30 years old at 7,800 per hectare.

The wine has aromas of green apples, white pears, citrus zest, and a delicate lift of white flowers and almonds. A thread of wet stone gives the bouquet precision and depth. The palate is medium-bodied and mouthwatering, with a silky texture threaded with lively acidity. Flavors of green apples, white peaches, lemon curd, and lime zest are driven by saline minerality. Five months on fine lees add a subtle roundness that fills out the frame. The finish is mineral-driven, fading with citrus pith and vibrant acidity. 

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Pan-seared scallops with lemon butter, poached halibut, or roast chicken with a light cream and herb sauce.
🥦 Vegetarian: Goat cheese and tomato risotto, white asparagus with a light vinaigrette, or a spring herb and fennel salad.
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Fresh chèvre, Chaource, smoked salmon rillettes, cornichons, and sourdough crackers.

Overall Impression:
The 2024 Côtes Salines is a benchmark value in white Burgundy — Chablis in spirit, Bourgogne in price. Clean, mineral, and deeply satisfying, it demonstrates exactly what Kimmeridgian terroir can deliver outside the appellation boundary. 

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 12.5%
Farming Practices: HVE Level 3 certified sustainable viticulture; 30-year-old vines; double Guyot training; 7,800 vines/hectare; raisonnée farming (organic certification paused in 2024 to protect yields)
Producer Name: Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: France
Region: Bourgogne Côtes d'Auxerre AOC, Burgundy
Grape Varietals: Chardonnay 100%
Vintage:2024
Wine Style: Dry, Light-to medium-bodied white
White Winemaking Techniques: Mechanical harvest; direct pressing; fermentation with natural yeasts in stainless steel; 100% malolactic fermentation; 10 months on fine lees in tank; no oak
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: DIAM technical cork