Mâcon-Vinzelles “Le Clos de Grand-Père” AOC 2023

Wine Description for Mâcon-Vinzelles “Le Clos de Grand-Père” AOC 2023 by La Soufrandière

Colour & Appearance

Pale golden yellow with luminous brilliance – a Chardonnay that displays its maturity without sacrificing freshness.

Nose

Juicy and seductive, this Mâcon-Vinzelles presents itself with a precise aromatic profile between yellow apples, ripe pears and citrus fruits with a hint of zest. Added to this are notes of brioche, a whisper of blonde tobacco and sage – a perfect balance between warm ripeness notes and cool minerality.

Palate

Charming and open, the wine unfolds with juicy, crisp apple fruit, accompanied by citrus and greengage. The texture displays pleasant extract and a hint of extract sweetness, without feeling heavy. Nuances of cream, yeast and anise lend complexity. The Bret brothers deliberately harvested later in 2023, which gives the wine a clearer Mâcon typicity – ripe, but never at the expense of precision and freshness.

Finish

Medium length with persistent fruit and a refreshing citrus note that enlivens the palate and invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The 1.1-hectare parcel sits at 200 metres altitude at the foot of the Pouilly-Vinzelles hill. The vineyard, a historic clos, stands on a rocky vein of hard Jurassic Bajocian limestone with clay content. The vines are between 40 and 110 years old – a family heritage spanning generations on the maternal side, belonging to the winemakers’ grandfather.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Chardonnay, harvested on 4 September 2023. Following whole-bunch pressing, spontaneous fermentation and malolactic fermentation took place. The wine was aged 90% in stainless steel tanks and 10% in barriques over eleven months – a deliberate choice for freshness and fruit clarity. pH: 3.47, total sulphur: 28 mg/l.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This versatile Chardonnay harmonises beautifully with grilled white fish, scallops, mushroom risotto, poultry in cream sauce or aged Comté. Also an excellent choice with goat’s cheese and light pasta dishes with herb butter.

Special Features

The “little brother” of the Pouilly-Vinzelles “La Soufrandière” impresses with an extraordinary price-to-pleasure ratio. The late 2023 harvest and restrained use of oak underscore the Bret brothers’ philosophy: terroir before technique, clarity before opulence.