Vestige Chardonnay achieves 92 points from Decanter

Bijou is proud to announce that its newest micro-cuvée, Vestige Chardonnay 2024, has been awarded a Gold Medal (95 points) at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2025, one of the most rigorous and respected blind tastings in the world. Among nearly 18,000 entries, Vestige stood out as a singular expression of French Chardonnay, outperforming renowned names from Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Meursault Premier Cru, Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru, and other celebrated Burgundian villages long regarded as the global reference for this noble grape.

Produced in exclusive quantities, just 1,200 bottles, Vestige is the culmination of Bijou’s pursuit of excellence in the Haute Vallée de l’Aude, a high-altitude enclave in the Languedoc framed by the snowcapped Pyrenees. The vineyards here are shaped by diverse climatic influences and exceptional soils, including limestone clay formed over millennia through the erosion of the Pyrenean range. These terroirs lend precision, minerality, and structure to the wines, offering the hallmarks of great Chardonnay with a distinctly Southern soul.

Temperatures in this remote corner of AOP Limoux average three degrees cooler than in Narbonne, enabling long, gentle ripening and preserving natural acidity. Since 2023, Bijou has introduced green harvesting to the older Chardonnay vines, removing canopy in late June to expose bunches to the cooler morning light while shielding them during the peak heat of the day. This practice encourages even ripening, protects against sunburn, and improves airflow to reduce disease pressure in increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions.

Climate resilience is central to Bijou’s viticultural philosophy. The team uses satellite imagery and vineyard software to monitor hydric stress across key parcels. These tools help anticipate the impact of drought, hail, and sudden rainfall, enabling more informed sustainable vineyard management decisions. As climate change accelerates, this level of precision has become essential in unlocking the full potential of Southern France’s most marginal sites.

Fermentation and élevage for Vestige take place in the finest French oak barrels, with partial malolactic fermentation to enhance texture and bâtonnage to deepen complexity. The result is a poised, mineral wine of exceptional balance and length that speaks both of place and intent.

The name Vestige derives from the Latin vestigium, meaning footprint or trace. It evokes both the enduring impact of history on the land and Bijou’s quiet but deliberate path in redefining quality in the South. These wines are not only about technical excellence but about leaving a lasting impression of origin, elegance and possibility.

Bijou’s growing range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay begins with Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose which is a linear, precise and fruit-driven introduction. The mid-tier Eminence adds a layer of complexity through partial barrel fermentation and the summit is Vestige, an uncompromising interpretation that sets a new standard for cool-climate wines from the South.

“Winning Gold at Decanter with our very first release of Vestige is both humbling and galvanising” says Edward Vellacott, Commercial Director at Bijou. “It shows that with the right terroir, care, and courage, Chardonnay from the South can rival the very best.”

Explore Vestige de Bijou Chardonnay