Nick Dobson Wines Mâconnais

The Mâconnais Mâconnais wines are principally dry whites made from the Chardonnay grape, which thrives on the local limestone soils. A small amount of red is also made, most from Gamay but also a tiny amount from Pinot Noir. It is the whites however which are the main focus of interest, and we offer a good selection of Mâconnais whites, including well-known appellations such as Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint Véran, but also wines from the outstanding newly-created appellation of Viré-Clessé, and of course good-value Mâcon-Villages. The growers are all small family-scale businesses, all passionate about quality. Mâconnais wines represent a bit of a bargain - real white Burgundies at a fraction of the cost of those from the northern part of the region. They accompany marvellously fish, poultry, and white meat dishes. Scroll down to see our range of Mâconnais wines

Mâcon Villages

Mâcon-Villages is the predominant appellation in the Mâconnais, and is a white wine made from the Chardonnay grape. It is an easy wine to drink.and goes well with seafood. Good examples will be gently golden in colour, with floral aromas and will taste of Chardonnay, often with hints of other fruits such as peaches, and sometimes with citrus flavours. Mâcon-Villages can come from any of more than 40 villages in the area, and may be labelled simply as "Mâcon-Villages", or if from a single village, with the village identified on the label as an appendage to the name "Mâcon" - so a wine from Lugny would be "Macon-Lugny", one from Loché would be "Macon-Loché" etc. It is a pretty region of gently-contoured rolling hills, small villages and open countryside criss-crossed with country lanes, with mixed cultivation meaning that unlike the Beaujolais, one does not encounter a sea of vines everywhere - there are also grain and vegetables to be seen growing in the fields.

Viré-Clessé

Viré-Clessé is a relatively new appellation, formed from two of the communes previously forming part of the group comprising the Mâcon-Villages appellation, Viré and Clessé (whose former appellations Mâcon-Viré and Mâcon-Clessé have now disappeared) and also Montbellet and Laizé. This was justified on the grounds that the wines from these communes were some of the best in the Mâcon-Villages, and elevation to appellation status was deserved. My personal view is that this is entirely justifed, as the quality of the wines we have drunk from around the Viré area over the years goes to show. There is a certain novelty value surrounding elevation to appellation status, and there may be upwards pressure on prices in the future.

Saint-Véran

The Saint Véran appellation covers about 500 hectares in the communes of Chasselas, Leynes, Davayé, Prissé, Chânes, and St. Vérand, and accounts for nearly a tenth of all Mâconnais wine production. Wines are dry white from the Chardonnay grape. The skills of the winemaker, the microclimates, and the huge diversity of soils yield wines with a variety of styles and characteristics, with aromas ranging from fresh white fruits, such as pear and apple, to floral such as lime, acacia, and honeysuckle. With aging, these fade, giving way to a more complex bouquet of honey, roasted hzlenuts, and almonds, and if the wine has been oak-aged, hints of vanilla. The palate is characterised by roundness, with intense Chardonnay fruit. Sain Véran wines have good keeping qualities. The colour will typically be golden with green tinges. Smoothness and elegance sum up the appellation of Saint Véran; these are fine wines to accompany fish dishes, shellfish, white meats and chicken cooked in cream sauces. Saint Véran wines are normally served chilled, at around 11°.

Poully-Fuissé

Arguably the best appellation in the Mâconnais, and much favoured by international clientele, especially the Americans, which has forced up prices. The Pouilly-Fuissé apellation encompasses the villages of Pouilly, Fuissé, Vergison, and Chaintré, clustered around the massive rocky outcrops of Vergisson and Solutré, where prehistoric man hunted by driving wild animals to fall to their deaths. There are no Premiers Crus in Pouilly-Fuissé, but sometimes a vineyard name is appended to the label. Good examples of Pouilly-Fuissé will have a glorious golden or golden-green colour, and be complex and fruity, with an often floral perfume, and flavours of nuts and stone-fruit, sometimes peaches. It makes an excellent accompaniment to seafood dishes. We offer Pouilly-Fuissé wines from the excellent Domaine Daniel Pollier, in the heart of the village of Fuissé.