MACON ÎGE SOUS LA ROCHE 2013

Production area

Mâcon-Igé belongs to the regional appellation Mâcon from the Mâconnais vineyard, that spreads on 3 868,27 ha (including 3 345,82 ha of Chardonnay) at an altitude varying between 100 and 400 meters above the sea level. More precisely, "Sous la Roche" is a plot in the village of Igé benefiting from a noth-west exposure on the hillside, with an average altitude of 275 m. Its particular situation makes it a late terroir which produces very fresh wines. This lieu-dit was certainly named after its location: the vineyard lies below a rocky belt that overlooks the Côte in this particular place.

Origins

The terroir of the Mâconnais differs significantly from that of more northerly regions of Burgundy. It can be clayey, siliceous or granitic. Sous la Roche" benefits from limestone soil and a siliceous subsoil, giving the wine its fresh, mineral character.

Varietal

100% Chardonnay

Tasting notes

COLOUR : Fine gold with tinges of green.
NOSE : Elegant and subtle but very expressive with floral, grassy aromas (mint) and hints of lemon
PALATE : A clean, fresh attack. Good balance. Rounded and supple with good acidity. Rediscovery of the floral, grassy aromas.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes are harvested with a machine whose asset is to create a first maceration prior to fermentation that will favor a better extraction of aromas. 
The vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks for 10 days, with the purpose of keeping all the freshness of the Chardonnay. During fermentation, the “pumping over” method is applied to give more intensity to the wine.
Then to let the wine fully express its freshness and minerality, ageing takes place in stainless-steel tanks for 6 months.

Food and wine pairing

This wine is perfect paired with mixed salads, sushis, poultry and veal in cream sauce, creamy risotto with meat, poultry or fish and goat cheeses.

Serving suggestions

10 to 12°C

Ageing potential

2 to 6 years

Vintage : 2013

The Mâconnais also experienced very difficult weather conditions in 2013 : winter was particularly long and followed by a fresh and rainy spring. We all remember it for we witnessed various floods. As a consequence, the flowering was very long which lead to numerous flower abortions. Sadly, we knew from there that we would go through another small harvest…When the summer began, we starting hoping and thought we would be spared. But we had to suffer a powerful hailstorm and witness another part of the harvest vanish. That’s why we had to harvest a bit sooner this year and sort the grapes very carefully. We put the stress on having the best must quality before starting the fermentation process. We also tried to keep fast fermentations (alcoholic and malolactic) with a short maturing in barrels that we completed with a longer ageing in stainless steel tanks in order to keep the freshness of the wine and avoid any kind of aromatic deviation.
Finally, we are facing a very ethereal and soft vintage, which can seem too light at first sight but which has a good complexity enhanced by delicate woody notes. This vintage will be better drunk in its youth, to enjoy all its crispiness. 

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