(Originally published 2 July 2018.)
Joseph DROUHIN
Joseph DROUHIN
2016 Saint-Véran
Drouhin’s Saint-Véran is medium-weight, round, dense, and concentrated with some pear fruit. Harvested 20 September - 3 October, raised part in oak, part in stainless steel. 87/B
2016 Mâcon-Bussières Les Clos
This Mâcon-Bussières shows good freshness along with richness and elegance. The wine has a silky texture, Chardonnay fruit, and just a touch of oak. Drouhin works with four growers in this appellation; the vines are at high altitude. Harvested 23-26 September. Raised 1/3 in (500 liter) oak casks, 2/3 in stainless steel. 90/A
2016 Pouilly-Vinzelles
Here, the wine has floral aromas with a hint of butter. The texture is creamy, the wine is dense and clear with slight butter hints. Harvested 21-27 September. Raised 1/3 in (500 liter) oak casks, 2/3 in stainless steel. 90/A
Paul JANIN & Fils
2016 Beaujolais-Villages Argiles
This wine has a medium-full body with good crispness and acidic bite and vanilla overtones to its green apple fruit. 13% stated alcohol. 87/B
LES HÉRITIERS DU COMTE LAFON
Dominique Lafon called 2016 one of the most beautiful harvests he’s done in the Mâconnais.
2016 Mâcon-Prissé
This wine shows minerality, freshness, good density, and clarity. 87/B
2016 Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine
Lafon's Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine is mineral, fresh, light, penetrating, and clear. 89/A-
2016 Mâcon-Uchizy Maranches
This wine is rounder and more tender than the previous wines with minerality and clarity. Dominque Lafon says that the wines of the Northern Mâconnais, as here, are always the most precise. 89/A-
2016 Mâcon-Bussière Monsard
The Mâcon-Bussière is medium-weight, layered, and tender with richness and also finesse. 90(+)/A
2016 Mâcon-Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette
The Mâcon-Chardonnay, Clos de la Crochette is round with a bit more weight, minerality, and good length and completeness. 90/A
2016 Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four
Lafon’s Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine, Clos du Four shows a bit more structure and tension than the preceding wine, and it has good depth to its cherry fruit. 90/A
2016 Viré-Clessé
This wine features a complex, attractive nose of lime blossoms. The mouth is richer than the previous wine with silkiness, length, and lime blossom flavors. 90+/A
2016 Saint-Véran
The nose here features pear fruit that I so often find in Saint-Véran. The pears continue in the mouth with clarity, minerality, freshness, and texture. But complexity is lacking. 89/A-
Maison MARCHAND-TAWSE
2016 Viré-Clessé
This Viré-Clessé displays citrus fruits, freshness, purity, and energy. (88-91)
Domaine ROBERT-DENOGENT
2016 Mâcon-Soultré Clos des Bertillonnes
This wine is broad yet light on the palate and overall elegant. The wine features yellow fruits and a silky texture. Overall, it’s a wine for food, rather than sipping on its own. 13.5% stated alcohol. Lot LMV 05 16. 89/A-
Domaine de la SOEUR CADETTE/Jean MONTANET
With the small harvest in Northern Burgundy due to the spring frost, this estate purchased fruit in Southern Burgundy for appellations that it previously had not made.
2016 Mâcon-Villages
This wine has quite a bit of apple and pear fruit with some oiliness that seems to come from a touch of sugar in the wine. Although the wine does not taste sweet, there is high acidity here and the bit of sugar seems designed to play against the acidity. With time, the wine may come together more and show even better. 12% stated alcohol. 86(+?)/B-
2016 Mâcon-Chardonnay
The Mâcon-Chardonnay is crisp yet rich with simple, but satisfying, apple fruit. 12.5% stated alcohol. 87/B
THÉVENET & FILS/Domaine des 7 TERRORS
2016 Mâcon-Villages
An internet search suggests that Domaine des 7 Terroirs may be a dba in certain markets, such as New York, where Thévenet already has an established importer for some of its wines. This is a simple, but attractive wine with some opulence but also freshness and enough acidity to go with peach and apple fruit. Drink over the next 3-4 years. Lot L MV 16-2. 12.5% stated alcohol. 87/B