# Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes (2021)

- **Producer:** Domaine Leflaive
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €78
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, peach, lemon, blossom

## About this wine

This Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship of Domaine Leflaive, one of Burgundy's most revered producers, renowned for its Grand Cru white wines. This particular wine represents a unique expansion project initiated in 2003, where Leflaive applied its world-class expertise to the distinct terroir of the Mâconnais. The grapes for "Les Chênes" are sourced from a 3.43-hectare parcel in the Verzé valley, featuring two southwest-facing plots with shallow clay-limestone soils and some vines up to 85 years old. What makes this wine truly distinctive is the fusion of Mâconnais fruit with the precise vinification and aging philosophy of a top Puligny-Montrachet estate, all from biodynamically farmed old vines. The 2021 vintage, in particular, showcases this unique synergy, offering a wine that embodies both the regional character of Mâcon-Verzé and the signature elegance of Domaine Leflaive.

## Interesting facts

- Grapes are grown and pressed in Mâconnais, but vinified and aged at Domaine Leflaive's prestigious Puligny-Montrachet estate.
- The "Les Chênes" parcel features old vines, with some reaching up to 85 years of age, contributing to the wine's depth.
- Domaine Leflaive cultivates these Mâconnais vineyards using rigorous biodynamic farming practices.
- The wine undergoes a unique aging regimen, spending 10 months on lees in mixed vessels, followed by 6 months in stainless steel.

## Food pairing

This Mâcon-Verzé Chardonnay, with its medium body, crisp acidity, and pronounced notes of green apple, peach, and lemon, alongside a firm mineral core, is exceptionally versatile. Its freshness and minerality cut through richness, making it an ideal partner for creamy sauces and delicate proteins. The wine's fruit intensity can complement roasted poultry and seafood, while its balanced acidity harmonizes beautifully with the tang of goat cheese. The goal is to match the wine's elegance without overpowering its nuanced profile.

## Wine making process

The winemaking for Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes begins with entirely hand-harvested grapes from biodynamically farmed vines. After a gentle pneumatic pressing conducted in Verzé, the resulting must is carefully transported to Domaine Leflaive's historic cellars in Puligny-Montrachet. Fermentation is a carefully orchestrated process, utilizing a blend of vessels: 55% in stainless steel tanks, 42% in cement tanks, and a small portion of 3% in new oak barrels. This specific combination is designed to preserve the wine's inherent freshness while simultaneously building texture and complexity. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes an initial aging period of 10 months on its lees within these same fermentation containers. It is then racked into stainless steel tanks for an additional 6 months of aging on fine lees, culminating in a total aging period of 15 to 16 months. This extended lees contact and precise vessel management contribute to the wine's balanced profile and lingering finish.