The finest wines of the Mâconnais
In its June 2025 issue, *La Revue du Vin de France* (RVF) highlights the finest wines of the Mâconnais region, which it describes as “Burgundy’s most exciting wine-growing area”. This is a well-deserved tribute that gives us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on our own finest discoveries of recent years.
OUR SELECTION OF WINEMAKERS FROM THE MÂCONNAIS REGION:
Our selection deliberately focuses on emerging talents and winemakers who are low-key or receive little media attention. But how could we fail to mention those who have been delighting us for so many years? Here is a non-exhaustive list: Jean-Marie Guffens, Château des Rontets, Jacques Saumaize, La Soufrandière (Les Bret Brothers), Philippe Valette, Julien Guillot (Clos des Vignes du Maynes), Antoine and Nicolas Robert-Denogent, Jean-Marie Chaland … and apologies to all the others.
THE BEST WINES OF THE MÂCONNAIS
Jessica Litaud
The rising star
Having settled in her village of Vergisson in 2018, Jessica Litaud is already making a name for herself among the finest winemakers in the Mâconnais. Trained under Jean-Marie Guffens and Jean-François Gannevat (no small feat!), she produces dazzling wines from just 2.1 hectares of vines. Using organic methods and natural winemaking techniques, she gives free rein to her instinct and energy. These qualities are evident in her wines, which are very direct expressions of their terroirs. Pure grape juice, with no additives, except for a small dose of SO2 added at bottling to ensure optimal preservation. You’ll be hearing a lot more about her…
Bourgogne Aligoté is a new wine from Jessica Litaud, a grape variety close to her heart. A vibrant, refreshing wine that reveals delicate aromas of crisp white fruits and citrus zest. The palate, taut and mineral, is characterised by lovely liveliness and a salty finish. An ideal wine to accompany seafood or gougères as an aperitif.
Jessica Litaud’s Mâcon-Vergisson La Roche comes from a 0.48-hectare plot of 50-year-old vines planted on very chalky soil. The wine shines with its freshness and zesty citrus notes. It has just the right concentration, a smooth balance, and a taut, mouth-watering finish. This is a magnificent bottle to accompany a seafood risotto or razor clams à la plancha.
Jessica Litaud’s Saint-Véran Les Pommards comes from a 0.25-hectare plot of clay-limestone soil. A beautiful harmony between the “sun-kissed” character and the mineral precision of this terroir. The palate is enveloped in aromas of orange and brown sugar, offering a lively, generous flavour. It is particularly delightful when paired with a seafood risotto or pan-fried frogs’ legs.
Pouilly-Fuissé La Simplixité 2023
Jessica Litaud’s Pouilly-Fuissé La Simplixité embodies the marriage of the fruit’s simplicity and the terroir’s complexity. It is a blend of two micro-plots of Pouilly-Fuissé Village (the same cuvée as A François in 2022). An airy profile with crisp fruitiness (fresh apricots, white peaches). We appreciate the finesse and tension of this wine, which calls for some frogs’ legs, stuffed mussels, or fried trout or smelt.
Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Le Trio 2022
Jessica Litaud’s Trio is a blend of the second pressings from the estate’s three premier crus in Pouilly-Fuissé. An elegant nose of ripe fruit, dried flowers and toasted almonds. On the palate, a controlled richness, supported by a lovely acidity and a long, salty finish. A cuvée that perfectly captures the complexity of the Pouilly-Fuissé terroirs. It is the ideal accompaniment to premium shellfish, creamy poultry dishes or fish tagines.
Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Sur La Roche 2023
Jessica Litaud’s Pouilly-Fuissé Sur la Roche is perhaps the most distinctive Premier Cru from Vergisson. It is a perfect aromatic illustration of the La Roche terroir, combining minerality, freshness, roasted notes and flinty aromas. The concentration is perfectly balanced by just the right amount of ageing. The minerality lends the wine elegance and a lovely energy. A persistent and inspiring wine that will pair beautifully with refined fish dishes or creamy poultry.
Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Les Crays 2023
What can one say about this Pouilly-Fuissé Les Crays Premier Cru from Jessica Litaud?! … The magic of Les Crays works its charm instantly. The liveliness of a noble chalky character allows the taster to sense the pebbles. The sweet, tangy flavour of pomelo blends beautifully with the freshness of peppermint. All this is complemented by slightly spicy citrus aromas. A great, ripe, elegant and crisp Chardonnay, whose strong minerality has already devoured a refined, well-structured ageing. This wine’s gastronomic potential will enhance a lobster or a rock lobster.
THE BEST WINES OF THE MÂCONNAIS
Nicolas Maillet
The benchmark
Nicolas Maillet’s estate is situated on the hillsides of the small village of Verzé, in the heart of the Mâconnais region, in Saône-et-Loire. It lies 60 km north of Lyon and 120 km south of Dijon. As the fourth generation of the family, Nicolas took over the estate in 1999 and expanded it to 7 hectares. He has no desire to expand further, wishing to maintain strict quality control over his production. He is a pioneer and a staunch advocate of organic farming. His wines are the purest expression of the Mâconnais terroir. A benchmark!
Nicolas Maillet’s Bourgogne Aligoté is a micro-cuvée that bears the estate’s signature. Aromatic precision (citrus, white pear), refined ageing, a hint of salinity: freshness and energy are evident from start to finish. The wine shines thanks to its exemplary balance between roundness, liveliness and minerality. Lovely lemony notes on the finish lend the whole a mouth-watering appeal. A truly outstanding Aligoté!
Made from 45-year-old vines, this Mâcon Villages from Nicolas Maillet shines with its simplicity and rich flavour. The nose is delicate, with aromas of fruit and pear. The attack on the palate is pleasant, giving way to a lovely roundness and aromas of white fruit, with a very long, tangy finish.
Mâcon Verzé 2022
Nicolas Maillet delights us with this pure, concentrated and unpretentious Mâcon-Verzé. The wine develops aromas of fruit (pear, pineapple), white flowers and honeysuckle. The lively, immediate attack on the palate is striking, before giving way to a lovely roundness. The very mineral finish bears the hallmark of the Mâconnais’s limestone terroirs. This is a wine of great purity and brilliance that will continue to improve over the next five years.
The 2021 vintage, blended with grapes from a plot of very old vines currently in conversion, has dazzled us with its exceptional purity and elegant minimalism, which truly showcases the appellation’s terroir.
Mâcon Verzé Le Chemin Blanc 2023
A first-class wine for fine dining. It comes from the estate’s three oldest plots (soon to be 90 years old). The delicate, complex nose reveals aromas of white peaches, pears and acacia blossoms. On the palate, it is powerful, with lovely acidity and an impressive finish. Le Chemin Blanc dazzles with its purity, precise vinous character and ripe tension, the true DNA of the estate’s wines. This wine, which is well above the appellation’s average standard, has excellent ageing potential.
Nicolas Maillet offers a remarkable interpretation of the vintage with his light, silky and caressing red Mâcon! … It is a blend of Gamay and 50-year-old Pinot Noir from an east-facing plot. The grapes are vinified using carbonic maceration. The ruby colour is luminous. The nose develops intense aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries and subtle spicy notes. After a supple attack, the palate displays lovely liveliness and the fruity aromas re-emerge, carried by discreet, well-integrated tannins. A fine success!
THE BEST WINES OF THE MÂCONNAIS
David Bienfait
The Unassuming One
David Bienfait established his estate in 2009 in the village of Buissières, in the heart of the Mâconnais region in southern Burgundy. His 6-hectare estate spans the villages of Charnay, Davayé and Vergisson. He produces organically farmed wines from the Mâcon-Villages, Saint-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé appellations. His wines shine with their precision and a refined expression of each terroir. David Bien is undoubtedly a rising star of the Mâconnais region to watch very closely.
David Bienfait produces a splendid Mâcon Villages that shines with its zesty citrus fruit, its refined liveliness and its freshness. The wine comes from a small 1.09-hectare plot of young vines with a magnificent view of Mont Blanc. The minerality is sublime, the floral notes delicate, and the finish delightfully tart. It is the perfect accompaniment to aperitifs, seafood and shellfish. An absolutely remarkable value for money!
Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 2023
David Bienfait’s Les Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuissé combines minerality, richness and depth: a fine ambassador for the appellation. Aged in barrels, the wine reveals creamy and slightly vanilla-like notes that complement ripe, sparkling orchard fruit and hints of citrus. The wine’s richness and depth are expressed through a beautiful, perfect balance with lovely bitter notes on the finish.
Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Les Crays 2023
From a 0.68-hectare plot of very old vines, David Bienfait produces a Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Les Crays of the highest calibre. There is a perfect balance between the aromatic complexity of citrus fruits, the roundness on the palate and the wine’s finely chiselled minerality. The power is impressive, as is the freshness that accompanies the tasting from start to finish. The delicate flesh of a lobster and creamy poultry dishes will bring out its best.
THE BEST WINES OF THE MÂCONNAIS
Nicolas Delfaud
The simplicity of the terroir
Most of the 7 hectares of Nicolas Delfaud’s estate are situated on the hills above the village of Verzé. He has also owned a few acres of vines in Saint-Véran since 2018. This former Parisian sommelier began his career change in 2009 in Davayé, learning the trade at Château des Rontets for several years before launching his own estate in 2015. Since his first vintage in 2016, Nicolas Delfaud has been crafting precise wines with a refined, taut style, far removed from any pretentiousness. The understated ageing process reveals the wines’ salinity, freshness and minerality.
Rarely have the purity, structure and precision of a wine come across so clearly as in this Mâcon-Verzé from Nicolas Delfaud! … Lemony citrus, floral notes and minerality combine to create an ever-present sensation of energy and movement. This vibrant, flavourful character will be a perfect match for lemongrass chicken, a fillet of halibut or a Beaufort soufflé.
The wine owes its name to the old vines situated at an altitude of 400 metres, which enable Nicolas Delfaud to produce a Mâcon-Verzé that reflects his own style: precise and understated, far removed from any pretension. The wine’s complexity and maturity are in perfect balance with its minerality. The bouquet is distinct (with notes of white flowers and almonds), the intensity is thrilling and the finish is mouth-watering. A signature style that has established itself over the years as a true expression of the terroir. A truly beautiful wine!
Saint Véran La Boisserole 2023
Nicolas Delfaud’s Saint-Véran La Boisserolle is undoubtedly the most taut wine of the vintage. Minerality permeates the wine from start to finish. Sourced from a plot on the heights of Prissé, the Chardonnay here offers its traditional notes of white flowers and fresh butter. The palate, full-bodied and long, displays a very assured balance and unfolds with an exceptional finish. A fine wine of terroir and character, fruity and delicious.
Nicolas Delfaud’s Mâcon-Verzé Rouge shines with its juiciness and freshness. This crisp, taut Gamay evokes cherries, ranging from morello to Burlat. One appreciates the finesse of its tannic structure, the sweetness at the heart of the palate and the minerality on the finish. Perfect for enjoying without fuss and to the full with the simplest of dishes, such as grilled meats and summer salads.
THE BEST WINES OF THE MÂCONNAIS
The Pacaud
brothers The excellence of Saint Véran
Welcome to the home of Julien and Sébastien Pacaud in Chasselas, a small wine-growing village in southern Burgundy. These two are deeply rooted in their terroir and deeply attached to their village, where they carry on a long family tradition of winemaking. Their 13-hectare estate stretches between the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais regions, with the village of Chasselas always in view. It produces Pouilly-Fuissé, including a 1er Cru, Pouilly-Loché, Saint-Véran, Bourgogne Blanc, Beaujolais Blanc and Saint-Amour. Committed to the ecosystem and respect for living things, the Pacaud brothers naturally switched to organic farming in 2019 (2022 vintage certified). Their constant focus is on producing ‘pure’ wines, relying on plot-by-plot work and a minimalist, low-intervention approach.
Burgundy Monsieur Jacques 2023
Sourced from vineyards in the communes of Leynes and Saint-Amour, this Chardonnay is harvested by hand in whole bunches and taken directly to the press. Vinified without sulphur and using indigenous yeasts, it is aged on fine lees for nine months in stainless steel and concrete vats. Delicate, supple and well-balanced, the citrus aromas finish with a hint of bitterness that contributes to the wine’s freshness.
The Aux Faux cuvée from Domaine Pacaud is a fresh and powerful Saint-Véran that stands out for its rich flavour. The vines are laid out in an ‘amphitheatre’ above the village of Chasselas. It is in this exceptional setting that the grapes ripen, making the most of their terroir and the sunshine. The bouquet ranges from citrus to white-fleshed fruits. The palate is perfectly balanced, driven by lovely tension and a hint of salinity on the finish.
La Côte is undoubtedly the most distinctive Saint-Véran from the Pacaud estate. A delicately structured wine with a sharp minerality that evokes citrus aromas, a subtle hint of apricot and hints of fresh almonds. The mineral tension runs through the wine from start to finish and will pair wonderfully with the briny notes and delicate flesh of a fine fish.
Pouilly Loché 2021
Les Mûres is a legendary vineyard site where Domaine Pacaud produces a Pouilly-Loché from 50-year-old vines on an 80-are plot. This east-facing plot is meticulously tended to produce an exceptional result. We particularly appreciate the aromatic complexity (white flowers, citrus fruits, subtle notes of aniseed and lime blossom). Then there is the pure minerality, the delicacy and the length on the palate. A very successful pairing with a fillet of whiting in lemon butter or pork with pineapple.
