Wine Advisor
Guffens Heynen, Macon Pierreclos 1er Jus de Chavigne 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2022 Mâcon-Pierreclos 1er Jus de Chavigne has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of waxy citrus fruit, white peach, buttery pastry and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, it's racy and intense, with a tangy spine of acidity that carries through the long, saline finish. As ever, "1er Jus" indicates that this cuvée is produced with the free-run and first-press juice (which is lower in pH and higher in acidity, bringing more tension) from the Chavigne vineyard.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
From the first presse only, the 2022 Mâcon-Pierreclos 1er Cru de Chavigne comes from the free run juice without settling and goes into barrel fermented with no SO2. Captivating citrus fresh scents burst from the glass with grilled walnut and yellow fruit. The palate is well balanced, underpinned by a taut line of acidity, the citrus-fresh opening segueing into a slightly exotic praline-tinged finish. Wonderful.
About the Producer
Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen is renowned as a Chardonnay master, who has played a crucial role in enhancing the reputation of Mâconnais wines. Through the success of his small Vergisson domain, this region has become a notable destination for wine lovers. In the 1970s, Jean-Marie and his wife Maine made the bold decision to leave their native Flanders. Within three years, they became the owners of several plots on the slopes of Pierreclos. Today, their vineyard spans 5.3 hectares across the hillsides of Pierreclos, Vergisson, and Davayé. The vines are treated with natural methods, without any chemicals, and grapes are hand-harvested only when they reach optimal maturity, sometimes in several stages. In the cellar, the grapes are gently pressed and left to ferment naturally with native yeast. The wine is then aged on the lees and never filtered. This simple, natural approach has earned Guffens-Heynen's wines a solid reputation for their purity, precision, generosity, tension, and minerality. They have become highly sought-after, but difficult to procure due to the low production quantities. Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen's colorful personality is well-known not only in the Mâconnais but also as the owner of Domaine des Tourettes in the Lubéron (since 1997) and Château Closiot in Sauternes (since 2017). Domaine Guffens-Heynen has established itself as the ultimate reference in the Mâconnais, and Jean-Marie's talents in the vineyard are universally acknowledged. His mastery of Chardonnay has given new life to this region. Highly respected by his peers, praised by critics, and fervently sought-after by wine enthusiasts, Jean-Marie's wines have long stood out for their quality.
