Chardonnay, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France

Like listening to the gentle hoot & holler of the Red-Chested Pochard duck on a mirror-still pond. Today, the Valette estate happily farms 8.5 hectares of exclusively Chardonnay vines, following the principles of biodynamics since 1992 after an organic conversion in 1990. ‘Macon Chaintre’ is harvested from 65 year old vines on clay & silt soils that bring a driving mineral kick. Direct pressed into stainless steel tanks for fermentation & left in tank for an additional 6 months, before aging with lees in old oak barrels for 25 months. FUN FACT! Philippe ages some of his wines for up to 72 months on lees! He also seems to poignantly summarize his winemaking viewpoint with the quote: “The vine does not constrain itself, it guides itself patiently. We can influence it, not force it. Well conducted, nature knows its way”. Medium gold with intense elderflower, crystalline acacia honey, fresh pressed apple juice, waxy pear & hazelnut butter. Try with fried prawns & Thai curry with LOTSA lemongrass.