France | Burgundy | Marcel Couturier | Les Longues Terres Macon-Loche

Les Longues Terres Macon-Loche

Varietal
Chardonnay

Notes
VINEYARD: Les Longues Terres in Macon-Loché. Marcel farms 11 hectares of chardonnay vineyards total in multiple different appellations: Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, Saint-Véran, Mâcon-Loché, Mâcon-Vinzelles, and Mâcon Blanc. Most of his vines are quite old with many parcels exceeding 70 years of age and his “young” vines averaging 30 years in age. In the case of Les Longues Terres, the vines are considered "young" at 35+ years old. The soils here are chalky-clay.

VINIFICATION: Farming here is meticulous with Marcel employing only certified-organic and biodynamic (pending biodynamic certification in 2021) methods; he plows the soil to curtail weeds and believes the hard, poor clay soils greatly benefit from the aeration and the introduction of native organic materials. His farming style could be described as regenerative, in that he has taken great care to improve the soil in each of the vineyards he farms. Being a traditional farmer, Marcel lets his chickens, geese, and guinea fowl roam the vineyards for natural pest control and to add valuable nitrogen to the poor Burgundian soils. As the summers become warmer, Marcel keeps pushing his harvest dates earlier to maintain freshness and liveliness in the wine. Fermented and aged for 11 months in barrel. Bottled before the following harvest.

TASTING NOTES: The "calling-card" of the estate. A pure expression of Chardonnay from the southern Mâconnais - of exceptional poise and balance. Both nervy and rich, creamy and earthy, full-bodied but nimble. A perfect all-around, versatile, crowd-pleaser that does not sacrifice complexity.