MÂCON > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

MÂCON 2024

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2022 2023 2024

Varietal

Gamay.

Tasting notes

Robe : intense ruby-red tinged with purple.

Nose : bright black fruit aromas redolent of blackberries and blackcurrant.

Mouth : fresh and yet round, with very pleasant fruity flavours emphasized by supple tannins that give great lenght to the wine.

Food and wine pairing

Ideal with meats, snails, roasts and mild cheeses.

Serving suggestions

To best enjoy its flavours, serve ideally between 12°C and 14°C / 54°-57°F.

Ageing potential

Drink young, can be kept from 2 to 3 years.

Origins

The Mâconnais is the soul of Southern Burgundy. It stretches for some forty kilometres from the Côte Chalonnaise to the Solutré rock. Between the Saône and Grosne rivers, valleys and hillsides are home to vineyards. Wines from the Mâcon appellation, whether red or rosé and whether made from Pinot Noir or Gamay noir à jus blanc grapes, are limited to the arrondissement of Mâcon and 11 neighbouring communes. They may also be labelled with the name Mâcon plus the name of their commune of origin.

The appellation is cultivated on 350 ha of red and rosé vines (3800 ha of white vines).

- The soils are predominantly limestone, with some granite outcrops.
- South-east and east facing.
- Gentle to steep slopes.
- Altitude between 100 and 400 metres.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes are destemmed for maximum fruitiness. Maceration and fermentation take place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature (30°C), with punching down of the cap twice a day during alcoholic fermentation and a few pump-overs to extract all the compounds from the grapes. Malolactic fermentation is carried out at 100% to soften the wine and reduce its acidity. In order to obtain fruity aromas, the wine is matured in vats for around 6 months.

Vintage : 2024

The year 2024 in Burgundy was marked by extreme weather conditions, including excessive rainfall and a significant lack of sunshine. These factors led to high disease pressure, particularly downy mildew, complicating the work of winegrowers. Episodes of frost and hail also caused substantial damage, especially in regions such as Chablis and the Auxerrois.

Yields were heavily impacted, with losses reaching up to 70% in certain areas. The Côte Chalonnaise proved more resilient, recording more limited losses. Overall, volumes are well below the usual average, reminiscent of the difficult 2021 harvest.

The late harvest required rigorous sorting to preserve quality. Despite the challenges, the harvested grapes reached excellent ripeness thanks to a sunny spell in September. The reds stand out for their richness and concentration, comparable to great vintages like 2010. The whites, characterized by their elegance, are reminiscent of the 2022 vintage.

Initial tastings reveal promising wines with concentrated aromas and fine structure. This vintage, though quantitatively limited, is shaping up to be a qualitative success.