Macon/Côte Chalonnaise 2021: New Releases

This 2-hectare plot lies in the north of the region, and typically produces a wine with gentler acidity than the domaine’s others. Nevertheless, it is always one of the most balanced, and one of the freshest feeling. This freshness is derived from the minerality of fruit, grown on the marl soils of Uchizy. It’s a perfectly balanced Macon.

Dominique owns 2 hectares in Saint-Véran. It’s one of his more recent purchases, with two parcels picked up in 2014 and 2016. Powerful yet impeccably balanced, this shouldn’t be missed in 2021.

Not made in 2019 due to frost. The vines lie near Saint-Véran, and they tend to ripen early. This is charming and easy, with lots of creamy fruit on the finish.

This is the pinnacle of the Lafon wines in the Mâconnais, or as Dominique would put it, the ‘Porusots’ of the Mâcon domaine. That is to say: crystalline and pure, with a power, presence and precision you might expect from a much grander appellation in the Côte d'Or. In the brilliant 2021 vintage, it’s not to be missed.

Chardonnay here refers to the village, rather than the variety. Clos de la Crochette is a charming walled vineyard that Dominique bought in 2003. After a little investigation he discovered it is one of the most historic sites in all of Burgundy, first planted by the monks of Cluny (c.900 AD). It’s elegant, fine, and delicious.

Many parcels are blended into this brilliant wine, all from the Viré side of the appellation. The old vines thrive in the village’s clay-rich topsoil over limestone subsoil. The wines from this side of the appellation tend to be straighter and tighter than the more generous and rounded Clessé side. This is a brilliant 2021, but will need a little time to come together.

Clos des Four is a particularly stony site, and it produces naturally low yields, which results in a wine with intense concentration and fleshy depth. Lots of creamy fruit here, with plenty of freshness, too. This is deliciously balanced, and there’s a real sense of drive and dynamism.

This is the village where you’ll find the cellar, and it makes what we think of as the most classic example from the domaine. From higher-altitude parcels, this is juicy and fine, and there’s a lot of purity.

This usually comes from a single site - Le Monsard - near the cellar. However, becuase of the tiny crop in 2021, this was blended with other parcels, meaning that it is not a single site wine. It still stikes the balance between incisive freshness and precise ripeness.