MÂCON-CHARDONNAY > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

MÂCON-CHARDONNAY 2024

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2023 2024

Varietal

100% Chardonnay.

Tasting notes

Colour: Nice pale golden colour.

Nose: Elegant bouquet, very fresh, aromas of citrus and white fruit notes, delicately woody, a touch of minerality.

Mouth: Pleasant palate, fresh and quite sweet but the freshness dominates, nice fruity.

Food and wine pairing

Will perfectly accompanies light starters, poultry and white meats, or cheeses such as dry goat cheese or a blue cheese such as the French “Bleu de Bresse”.

Serving suggestions

Serve at around 12-14 °C. / 54-57°F.

Ageing potential

This wine can be consumed now or laid down in a cellar for the next 3 years.

Origins

The namesake of the famous Chardonnay grape, the Mâcon-Chardonnay appellation is produced in the commune of the same name, as well as in the villages of Ozenay, Plottes and Tournus.

The elders of the Village de Chardonnay, not far from Tournus, will tell you that their village gave its name to the famous Burgundy grape variety. The only certainty is that Chardonnay comes from the Latin "Cardus" meaning thistle, a prickly annual plant that is particularly fond of limestone soils. Chardonnay is the limestone village par excellence. A magnificent wine, with an explosive, mouth-watering bouquet, guided by the natural tension of the terroir.

The Jurassic-age soils are brown calcareous, marly and clayey-siliceous. In the Chardonnay area, the vines face due south, while in the other communes, the slopes face east and west.

Vinification and maturing

Grapes are gently and slowly pressed in pneumatic presses, then the must is settled at low temperature. Fermentation is in temperature controlled vats so to preserve the freshness and natural fruitiness of the grape. The wine undergoes alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation and then matures for 6 to 8 months on fine lees in stainless steel vats.

Vintage : 2024

The year 2024 in Burgundy was marked by extreme weather conditions, with excessive rainfall and a significant lack of sunshine. These factors led to heavy disease pressure, particularly downy mildew, complicating the work of the winegrowers. Frost and hail also caused significant damage, particularly in regions such as Chablis and Auxerrois.

Yields were severely affected, with drops of up to 70% in some areas. The Côte Chalonnaise held up better, with more limited losses. Overall, volumes are well below the usual average, a reminder of the difficult harvests in 2021.

The late harvest necessitated rigorous sorting to preserve quality. Despite the challenges, the grapes harvested reached good ripeness thanks to a sunny spell in September. The reds stand out for their richness and concentration, comparable to great vintages such as 2010. The elegant whites are reminiscent of 2022.

Initial tastings reveal promising wines, with concentrated aromas and a fine structure. Although limited in quantity, this vintage promises to be a qualitative success.