Andre Bonhomme Vire-Clesse 'Les Pierres Blanches'

Many of you know and love the wines of Andre Bonhomme, one of the most legendary estates of the Maconnais in Southern Burgundy. Their Chardonnays are known for their balance of ripe and rich fruit, super zesty acids, and complex mineral personalities.

Domaine Andre Bonhomme was one of the first estates in the Maconnais to attain organic certification. No chemical weed sprays and no insecticides…..they even limit the use of organic sprays so that the plant “learns” to defend itself. All grapes are picked by hand and carefully sorted in the cellars prior to fermentation. Post fermentation, the wine is aged for an 18 months on the fine lees, allowing it to pick up some of the spicy nuance that the spent yeast cells impart. That’s 2 to 3 times as long as most Macon producers age their wines.

Their Les Pierres Blanches comes from a mixture of young and old vines planted in rocky, limestone rich soils. It is one of their highest elevation vineyards and one that is typically picked last. The resulting wine is intense, complex, and savory, with deep notes of caramelized pineapple and peach, honeysuckle, spice, and intense mineral. Lovely stuff!