The Maconnais has long been one of our favorite sources for white Burgundy. This southern sub-region produces wines with an often friendlier character than those of the famous Côte d’Or to the north. Maconnais whites typically have low or no oak, they’re more affordable, and require less cellaring.
Our source here (soon to be one of two) is Nicolas Maillet, an energetic, friendly winemaker bursting with enthusiasm for his craft. In his updated edition of “Inside Burgundy,” Jasper Morris MW calls Maillet “an excellent winemaker;” William Kelley calls his wines “elegantly textural and enveloping…pure and precise” with “immediate charm.”
We’ve been enjoying Maillet’s 2019 Macon-Villages for a year now, and are thrilled at last to have his other cuvée in stock from this superb vintage. The 2019 Macon-Verzé is simply delicious, bursting with pure, vibrant unoaked Chardonnay fruit. Its 50-year-old vines produce a concentrated wine that explodes from the glass with notes of pear, tangerine, wild honey, herbs and chalk. There’s excellent freshness following a smooth, intense, fruit-filled attack.
William Kelley found it “bright and precise” with a “gently honeyed finish,” awarding 90 points and concluding “it’s a terrific value.” We think this is an extraordinary amount of wine packed into a $30 bottle, and predict it will delight serious and casual wine drinkers alike. Pour with comté on crackers.
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Maillet Macon-Verzé 2019
bottle price: $28
