Jean-Pierre & Michel Auvigue are third
generation
proprietors at Le Moulin du Pont. Robert Parker
notes that: "Their wines are among the
top half-
dozen wines produced in the region they are
favorites at such important restaurants in
France as
La Mère Blanc in Vonnas, as well as Lasserre and
Maxim's in Paris."
Many, many of you love this wine,
and it's
easy to see why. Macon Solutré has
extraordinary purity and subtlety. It's
Jean-Pierre Auvigue's trademark. There is
nothing heavy about this pure, Chardonnay
wine with
its
elegant minerality and a little citrus with a
dash of honey. Jean-Pierre uses just a bit of
oak to add roundness and beautiful mouthfeel.
And what can you expect from the much-talked about 2009 vintage? Wine Spectator reports that, "The vintage I heard mentioned the most in comparison with 2009 was 1999. Some also cited 2002 [both stellar vintages]... All things considered, it looks like Burgundy lovers will be blessed with charming and fruity reds and whites."
Stephen Tanzer reports of the 2009 vintage that, "as a rule, 2009 produced a large crop of fleshy, fruit-driven wines offering considerable early appeal."
Another plus: Solutré has a modest level of alcohol
which means you can keep your glass filled
over those long, leisurely nights and
still pop up the next day bright-eyed and
chipper.
Of course, there is another reason I pour
Solutré into my glass on a regular basis.
The price. We all know the big white Burgundy
names: Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet,
Puligny-Montrachet ($50 plus per bottle).
But, you can't drink those regularly unless
you're a baseball player or a movie star.
BUT, you can pull the cork on a Maconnais
pretty much anytime you feel like it.
And,
not feel like you're compromising.
The Macon region is actually a handful of
several different villages with names like
Fuissé and Solutré and Pouilly. There are
vineyards associated with these communes. All
of the growing areas have been classified
(like nearly every wine area in France)
according to the quality of the terroir and
are allowed to use label names usually
expressed as Macon- something, like
Macon-Solutré.
These are the wines whose grapes have come
exclusively from a specific commune.
Macon-Villages, the more general designation
(but a big jump up in quality from "Macon")
means the
grapes can come from several different
communes or
"villages."
The importance of "Solutré" is that 100% the
grapes
must come from here and this is one of the
best of the
'villages' - in fact 50% of it is classified
Pouilly Fuisse
(and costs twice as much).
Auvigue's Solutré is a wine that can age well
for 3 to 4 years, but I always drink it as
soon as I get it. It is a fleshy wine which
gives it a more viscous feel in your mouth.
The Auvigue whites are really great to just
sit around with and drink, but I've never
refused one a place at my dinner table
either. I think you'll be pleased.
Cynthia Hurley
