Mâcon-Chardonnay, Tourbillion 2020, Domaine Vuillemez

Buying White Burgundy Wine from Domaine Vuillemez

Discover the enchanting story of a unique friendship between Burgundy and Switzerland with Vuillemez Père & fils from the charming village of Chardonnay. These Swiss watchmakers, also lovers of Burgundy, have been producing organic wines with a refreshing and full-bodied character since 2019. The perfect wine to gift to a watch enthusiast! The new Domaine Vuillemez, located next to an ancient church in the village of Chardonnay, is led by Claude Vuillemez. Claude, a watchmaker from Neuchâtel and a senior executive within the Richemont group (which includes CARTIER), continues the tradition with passion and craftsmanship.

Under the guidance of the talented Swiss oenologist Christian Vessaz, from the beautiful winery “Cru de l'Hôpital” in the still relatively unknown Vully by Lake Murten in Switzerland, the wine from Vuillemez is infused with lively minerality. Christian's respect for nature is reflected in every sip, where the wine vibrates more, has refined aromatic precision, and retains length on the palate. Since 2019, they have committed to organic wine production and are transitioning to biodynamic viticulture with the help of Christian, known as a Swiss biodynamic specialist.

The Unoaked Chardonnay from the top vintage 2020 is a masterpiece from the Mâconnais. A stylish new-day thirst quencher for today and the years to come. This sophisticated wine reveals various facets. Right out of the fridge, it is refreshing, but with oxygen and temperature, it becomes more complex and rounded.

With powerful mineral and saline acids, the wine balances aromatic contributions and concentrated fruit aromas from the concrete eggs, creating a sensational tension and a floating, light-footed mouthfeel. Both complex and extremely precise, this wine is surprisingly drinkable, even at a young age. With sun-dried straw, wax, yellow fruit, and a hint of flintiness/smoke on the nose, the flavor offers a fresh and spicy experience with a slight richness on the bones. Think of stone fruits like mirabelle plum, zesty citrus notes, green apple, subtle tropical hints, flinty chalky minerality, a small bitterness, and a beautiful saline finish.

This refined cuvée, named ''Tourbillon,'' is inspired by the eponymous watch mechanism that limits the influence of earthly gravity. The egg-shaped concrete vessels promote the natural movement of the lees and keep them in suspension during vinification. Unlike manual stirring (''Bâtonnage''), this method retains freshness without compromising flavor. With an alcohol content of 13% for the 2020 vintage and an organic conversion, this wine is a promising concept for lovers of high-quality, pure, fresh, and exciting wines. When Burgundy wines have an excellent pedigree, they often come with oak aging. However, sometimes one craves something special without distraction from masking vanilla aromas. Here, the Tourbillon cuvée shines completely, with its aging in concrete eggs, offering a high-quality exciting experience.

Wine and Food Pairings

The Mâcon regional wine often features a slight bitterness in the finish and reveals a deep underlying green tea-like spiciness at the right temperature. Ideal to pair with white or green asparagus, sea kale, salads with grilled eggplant, sweet potato or spicy goat cheese, poke bowls, sushi, oysters, mussels, (vegetable) tempura, seafood, or various types of white fish. Rice dishes also generally pair well with the green tea element of this wine.

Special Features

• 100% Chardonnay, aged in concrete for preservation of freshness and terroir.
• Rich, dry, complex. The best from the region.
• The wine is grown in the northern Mâconnais, resulting in more freshness.
• In conversion to biodynamic farming.

Domaine Vuillemez Produces More Beautiful Wines:

Mâcon-Chardonnay, Les Beluses 2020, Domaine Vuillemez

Domaine Vuillemez

Swiss precision with Burgundian allure. A family of Swiss watchmakers and lovers of Burgundy. Vuillemez is a new estate located next to a 1000-year-old church in the village of Chardonnay, which is also the origin of the grape of the same name. Impressive wines stand out for their precision and refinement while still maintaining that mouth-filling, filmic, and creamy character of a good white Burgundy. These subtle flavors arise from aging in both concrete eggs and oak barrels.

Mâconnais: The Undiscovered Gem of Burgundy

What is Produced in the Mâconnais?

The Mâconnais is primarily known for its white wines, which are mainly made from the Chardonnay grape. The region has numerous appellations, with Mâcon-Villages, Viré-Clessé, Pouilly-Fuissé, and Saint-Véran being the most prominent. These wines are fresh, fruity, and often characterized by a fine minerality reminiscent of the top wines from northern Burgundy but with a softer, more approachable style. The wines from the Mâconnais often have a pronounced terroir that subtly varies by village, giving each bottle its unique character.

Which Dishes Pair Well with Mâconnais Wines?

The white Chardonnay wines from the Mâconnais are versatile and pair perfectly with a wide range of dishes. They are an excellent choice with shellfish and crustaceans like oysters, shrimp, lobster, and crab. Lighter fish dishes with subtle herb sauces also complement these wines well. Additionally, they pair perfectly with poultry dishes, especially when served with mushrooms or light sauces. For dessert, these wines go wonderfully with soft cheeses like brie or camembert.

The red wines, made from the Gamay or Pinot Noir grape, are lighter in style and pair well with poultry, veal, duck, and chicken. They are less suitable for heavy game dishes but go fantastically with earthy vegetables, mushrooms, root vegetables, and risotto. Both types of wines, both white and red, are versatile and can even be served with light desserts.

Buying Mâconnais Burgundy Wines

At Burgundy or Nowhere, you will find a carefully selected collection of wines from the Mâconnais. We are particularly impressed by the wines from Domaine de la Chapelle, whose Saint-Veran is known for its impressive depth and complexity at a reasonable price. The Pouilly-Fuissé AX-B from the eponymous domaine is also an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality Mâconnais experience without the high price of the Côte d'Or. Our goal is to offer wines that reflect what is in the bottle, not just the name on the label.