Maconnais Wine Region, Burgundy: 10 Vibrant Wines, Serving Tips (2024)
The Maconnais wine region in southern Burgundy is a hidden gem tucked away to the south of Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise.
This region consists of seven wine appellations highly regarded for their delectable wines, most notably their aromatic Chardonnay wine. One appellation also produces irresistible red and rose wines.
In this article, we will explore the Maconnais wine region - the appellations, 10 best bottles to buy in 2024, some quick serving tips, and the region’s winemaking practices.
We will also give your insights into the investment potential of these wines.
Further reading
- Discover other excellent Bourgogne Wines that would be perfect for your wine collection.
- Also, experience the versatility of Chardonnay wine with these 8 exciting bottles.
Maconnais Wine Appellations
Here are the main appellations of the Mâconnais region:
A. Mâcon
The Mâcon AOC in Southern France is recognized for producing high-quality white, red, and rose wines.
The whites wines are produced solely from the local Chardonnay grape variety, while red and rose wines are made from Gamay and Pinot Noir grapes. The red and roses can either be a blend or a varietal wine.
The Chardonnay wines are full and smooth with fresh and luscious fruity notes. And the red and rose Gamay and Pinot Noir wines are aromatic, rich, and fleshy with excellent structure and texture.
B. Macon Villages
Macon-Villages is a white wine appellation that comprises 26 villages across the Maconnais district. The wines are exclusively produced from Chardonnay.
Macon-Villages wines are dry with sufficient acidity and smooth fruit notes. They are also more sought-after than the wines from the Mâcon AOC.
C. Pouilly Fuissé
Pouilly Fuissé is the most-distinguished Maconnais subregion, famous for its fine white Burgundy wines. It is the only Mâconnais appellation to possess Premier Cru vineyards.
The Chardonnay wines from this appellation are full-bodied, elegant, and charming with opulent textures, natural richness, and a clear oak influence.
D. Pouilly-Vinzelles
Located in the communes of Vinzelles, the Pouilly-Vinzelles appellation is dedicated to producing Chardonnay wines.
The wines have bold mineral characteristics, representative of the region’s great terroir. They are powerful, aromatic, and refined with fleshy opulence.
E. Pouilly-Loché
The Pouilly-Loché white wine appellation is situated in the Loché commune of Maconnais.
Its Chardonnay wines are dry, opulent, silky, and mineral with a balanced structure and lingering flavors.
F. Saint Veran
Saint Veran is located in Hautes-Alpes - the heart of the French Alps.
Its Chardonnay wines are dry, well-rounded, and fresh, with good acidity, minerality, and harmonious structure.
G. Viré-Clessé
Comprising the communes of Clessé, Laizé, Montbellet, and Viré, this Mâconnais appellation produces only Chardonnay wines.
Its wines are lively, fresh, and well-rounded.
They are produced in dry (less than 3g/L residual sugar), demi-sec (between 4g/L-8g/L residual sugar), and Levrouté (between 8g/L-18g/L residual sugar) styles.
10 Best Maconnais Wines To Buy In 2024
Here are ten exquisite Maconnais wines that you should try in 2024:
- 2006 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse Premier Jus des Hauts de Vignes
- 2006 Jean Thevenet Domaine de la Bongran Macon-Villages Cuvee Botrytis
- 2019 Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse En Vigneraie
- 2018 Domaine Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Fuisse Vignes Blanches
- 2018 Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes
- 2018 Domaine J.A. Ferret Pouilly-Fuisse Hors Classe Les Menetrieres
- 2018 Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat Les Quarts Cuvee Millerandee
- 2018 Julien Guillot - Clos des Vignes du Maynes Macon Cruzille Manganite
- 2018 Domaine Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Loche
- 2018 Chateau des Rontets Pouilly-Fuisse Les Birbettes Vieilles Vignes
1. 2006 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse Premier Jus des Hauts de Vignes, Maconnais, France ($156)
The 2006 Guffens-Heynen has a nose of pear, licorice, and thyme. It has a vibrant palate of citrus, orchard fruit, melon, and sweet peach, with underlying minerality.
2. 2006 Jean Thevenet Domaine de la Bongran Macon-Villages Cuvee Botrytis, Burgundy, France ($135)
This 2006 vintage is a dessert wine produced from botrytized (afflicted with noble rot) Chardonnay grapes.The wine showcases a deep grapefruit, melon, and honey flavour with balance, finesse, and a syrupy mouthfeel.
3. 2019 Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse En Vigneraie, Maconnais, France ($124)
The 2019 En Vigneraie is a white wine with a beautiful bouquet of acacia blossom, white orchard fruit, and petrol. It displays sophisticated flavors with an underlying salinity and a persistent finish.
4. 2018 Domaine Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Fuisse Vignes Blanches, Maconnais, France ($91)
The 2018 Domaine Jules offers an elegant nose of toast, mineral, and mint aromas. On the palate, it shows impeccable balance with light acidity and minerality.
5. 2018 Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes, Burgundy, France ($64)
This 2018 vintage is a medium-bodied dry wine with a focused aroma of apple blossom, granite, and limestone. The wine has bright acidity and a saline aftertaste.
6. 2018 Domaine J.A. Ferret Pouilly-Fuisse Hors Classe Les Menetrieres, Maconnais, France ($63)
It is a medium-bodied wine with white flowers, green pear, warm bread, and honey aromas. The palate is layered, delivering a fine ripe fruit and toast flavour with a long finish.
7. 2018 Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat Les Quarts Cuvee Millerandee, Maconnais, France ($60)
This 2018 vintage wine has orange, orchard fruit, almond, and honeysuckle aromas. It showcases lively acidity on a fruit-focused palate with good intensity and length.
8. 2018 Julien Guillot - Clos des Vignes du Maynes Macon Cruzille Manganite, Burgundy, France ($54)
The 2018 Julien Guillot is an extraordinary Gamay red wine, offering a delicious nose of cranberry, black fruit, chocolate, mint, and spice aromas with a silky palate of strawberry, citrus, and earthy flavors.
9. 2018 Domaine Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Loche, Maconnais, France ($49)
This 2018 vintage Poilly-Loche white wine has beautiful white flowers, lemon, grapefruit, pear, peach, and honey aromas. It displays butter, cream, and mineral flavors on the palate with bright acidity and a well-rounded finish.
10. 2018 Chateau des Rontets Pouilly-Fuisse Les Birbettes Vieilles Vignes, Maconnais, France ($43)
The 2018 Chateau des Rontets has a sweet aroma of buttered orchard fruit, vanilla, and almonds. The wine is lively and fleshy with concentrated fruit flavors and a saline finish.
Investing in Maconnais Wines
The top wines of the Maconnais wine region have an aging potential of over a decade - thanks to its exceptional terroir.
Besides, Macon wines are affordably priced too, and they’re now getting the attention they deserve from wine investors.
It is highly likely that prices will appreciate well into the next few decades. Here are some examples:
- The price of the 2006 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse has appreciated by about 97% since 2020, rising from $79 in January 2020 to $156 in January 2022.
- The price of the 2019 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse has appreciated by 100% since 2020, rising from $60 in June 2020 to $120 in January 2022.
However, not every Maconnais wine is cellar-worthy.
So, if you are looking to invest in Bourgogne wines, you need a wine expert to help you select the perfect wine.
Vinovest is one such wine investment expert that can help you build a lucrative wine portfolio of investment-grade wines curated by master sommeliers.
How To Serve Maconnais Wines
Here are serving tips based on the wine style:
- Serve Chardonnay wines chilled at 50°F-55°F (10°C-13°C) in traditional white wine glasses. You can pair them with escargots de Bourgogne, foie gras, sushi, Maconnais bouton de culotte, and Beaufort cheese.
- Serve reds like a Gamay or Pinot Noir wine at 57°F-59°F (14°C-15°C) in standard red wine or Burgundy wine glasses. The wines go perfectly with assorted meat platters, burgers, tapas, and summer salads.
- You can serve the rose wines at 52°F-53°F (11°C-12°C) in flared-lip glasses. These wines pair perfectly with cold cuts, tabbouleh, burgers, and pizzas.
Maconnais: Viticulture And Winemaking
Maconnais has no Grand Cru vineyards but houses 22 Premier Cru vineyard plots in the Pouilly Fuissé appellation. Overall, the Mâconnais vineyard area spreads over 7,000 hectares.
The vineyard plots in the region are majorly present on limestone hills with alkaline clay soils. Chardonnay grapes dominate these plots, representing 80% of the planted vines. The remaining 20% account for Pinot Noir and Gamay vines.
These vines have been growing in the region since Gallo-Roman times and were mostly fostered by the Tournus and Cluny Abbey, which were Benedictine monasteries.
The Maconnais wine producers also follow the following appellation regulations:
- In the Mâcon AOC, Chardonnay vines must have a base yield of 60 hectoliters per hectare, and the wines must have at least 10% alcohol. For red and rose wines, a base yield of 55 hectoliters per hectare is allowed, and the wines should have a minimum of 10% alcohol.
- For the Macon Villages, the Chardonnay vines must have a base yield of 58 hectoliters per hectare, and the wines must contain at least 10.5% alcohol.
The Mâcon AOC and a few smaller villages are the only red and rose wine producers in the Mâconnais wine region.
Fun Fact: Many appellations in the region also produce single malt scotch!
Add A Classy Bottle Of Maconnais Wine To Your Collection
The powerful white wines and delectable reds of the Mâconnais region are perfect for wine lovers looking for exciting wine.
These Bourgogne wines are perfect to serve at your next celebratory event.
Want to add a fine Burgundy to your collection?
Sign up with Vinovest, a leading wine investment company, to start adding fine Premier or Grand Cru wines like a white Burgundy to your cellar.
