letuffeau.com
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Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau
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Pierreclos, Maconnais
“I hand over to Nick, our White Burgundy and indeed Chardonnay expert.
Neal Martin, our favourite terse English critic, is uncharacteristically effusive below.”
— David
“Mineral Maconnais — a substance previously unknown to science — has been detected on the outer Chagnoleau system …
David had the wise idea one morning to blind me on a bracket of two bottles of Puligny Premier Cru and a bottle of Chagnoleau. Not knowing what I was looking at (beyond, quite obviously, three white Burgundies of quality), I was particularly impressed by wine number two. It had a distinct freshness, pretty white flowers and impressive mineral drive. ‘This is the most Puligny-like of the three, David’, I noted. No doubt you already guessed that wine number two was not the most Puligny-like; it was in fact a Saint-Veran.
These are for the Chablis or Puligny tragics out there needing the fix without the price-tag. Frantz and Caroline had the foresight to accrue elevated, cooler-aspect sites to ensure that even in modern warm vintages they produce tensile and fresh wines. I note not a single hint of the dreaded ‘Macon pineapple’ which turns me off so many examples of Southern Burgundy. I should also point out that by forsaking classical lieu-dits and blending cuvees based on common soil types or aspect, they preserve greater freshness and intensity. True and original eccentrics. Me likey.”
— Nick
I
Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau 2023 Saint-Veran ‘Les Montchanins’
(Shelf Price: $98.00)
Offer: $84.00
“The 2023 Saint-Veran Les Montchanins comes from south-facing vines that tend to ripen quickly and so is picked early. Raised in used demi-muids, this has a tad more mineralite and animation than the Prelude cuvee. The palate is refined and elegant with perfectly pitched acidity, a saline finish and a dab of bitterness on the aftertaste. Superb.”
92pts — Neal Martin, vinous.com
Order here
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II
Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau 2023 Saint-Veran ‘A la Cote’
(Shelf Price: $98.00)
Offer: $84.00
“The 2023 Saint-Veran a la Cote comes from vines located over 400 metres in altitude on iron-oxidised soils. This has a complex, mineral-driven bouquet that blossoms in the glass with hints of white fruit, lanolin and beeswax. The palate offers exquisite balance and tension that offsets the density of this Saint-Veran. It fulfils my expectations from barrel last year and fans out wonderfully on the finish. Excellent.”
93pts — Neal Martin, vinous.com
“The blind bottle discussed above. Very Puligny-like with charming green orchard fruit, pressed linen, white florals, and excellent minerality. As NM says: excellent. That’s it.”
— Nick
Order here
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III
Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau 2023 Pouilly-Fuisse ‘Madrigal’
(Shelf Price: $138.00)
Offer: $118.00
“The 2023 Pouilly-Fuisse Madrigal is raised in used barrels with 20% new oak. This has a wonderful bouquet with yellow plum, honeysuckle and light apricot blossom scents that gain vigour in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant, a little more cohesive and concentrated than the Pastoral and more sustained on the finish. This has enormous potential and there is nary a Premier Cru berry in the blend!”
93pts — Neal Martin, vinous.com
Order here
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If you would like any of the above, would like to come by for a private appointment, or just have some questions — please let us know.