Wine Advisor
Guffens Heynen, Macon Pierreclos Juliette et les Vieilles de Chavigne 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2022 Mâcon-Pierreclos Juliette et les Vieilles de Chavigne is one of the high points of the range, unwinding in the glass with deep aromas of pear and waxy citrus framed by notions of iodine and smoky reduction. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's muscular and concentrated, with a racy spine, terrific depth at the core and a long, pure finish. Readers will have fun deciding which rendition of this cuvée is their favorite, but what is certain is that anyone who loves profound white Burgundy will want to own them all.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2022 Mâcon-Pierreclos Juliette et Les Vieilles de Chavigne comes from a stony terroir that must be picked early, picked at 14.3%, to which JM added old vines (two-thirds). There is a little reduction on the nose, though that does not disguise the intensity and concentration bound up in this Mâcon-Pierreclose. The palate is already strutting its saline stuff. The acidic bite is already conspicuous (Guffens comments that the pH is similar to 2013). The 2022 is linear and strict with a quasi-Meursault finish.
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.
