Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau 'Clos Saint-Pancras' Chardonnay Mâcon-Villages, 2021

Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau is a small estate run by two talented winemakers, Frantz Chagnoleau and his wife Caroline Gon (winemaker at H. du Comte Lafon.) Frantz graduated with a degree in Oenology from Bordeaux University in 2004 and cut his teeth working for Olivier Merlin in the Mâconnais. Caroline holds two degrees in agricultural engineering and oenology; she worked at Newton Vineyards in Napa Valley before returning to France to work with Dominique Lafon as head winemaker for Héritiers du Comte Lafon. The relationship with Dominque as a friend and mentor has had a great influence on the winemaking, which is evident in a lineup of pure, terroir driven Mâconnais wine.

Since 2013 all of the vineyards have been certified organic. As with Lafon, they believe in minimal intervention, which includes the use of only indigenous yeast, as the best way to express the nuances found in his variety of terroir. Aging is exclusively in used French oak and harvest is done completely by hand on a plot by plot basis, allowing each vine to achieve the appropriate balance of sugar and acidity before being picked.

In a very short amount of time, Frantz has turned his small domaine into a must have for all Burgundy lovers. The wines are truly world class; a whiff and a sip is all it takes to know we are dealing with something really special. Don’t miss out!