It's Back! And possibly better than ever... 

2019 is quite a vintage for Burgundy, with severe frost greatly reducing yields, followed by a warm, dry summer has led to a small harvest of concentrated, hedonistic wines. While that is a mixed bag for fans of the Cotes de Nuits and Beaune, for fans of the Macon, and their slightly more opulent wines, it is a dream vintage! I have 40 cases hitting this week. Likely gone by next and then we wait for the next boat to arrive...

Domaine des Granges Macon Fuisse 2019 
(label for illustrative purposes)

• Buy 6 or more pay $14.99
• All Else Sale $16.99

The secret to this incredible value? This wine comes from the heart of the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation but from higher altitude vineyards which were never classified as Pouilly-Fuisse. To be blunt, the soil is the soil… and Pouilly-Fuisse has some great soil! And routinely fetches $40 and up. But in decades past, the altitude of this vineyard meant the vines only ripened in exceptional vintages.  Enter Global Warming… obviously, not a great thing, but a reality that we find ourselves dealing with. In this case it means these higher altitude vineyards are now in the “sweet spot”, ripening fruit to perfection year after year, while offering vibrant acidity that comes from the altitude and more severe day/night temperature swings.

This gem is 100% stainless steel fermentation and aging. Naked, as it were. Scandalous! Owner Yannick Paquet is relentlessly meticulous in his vineyards, so he wants for you to taste nothing but the fruit and the terroir. This gem offers a brilliant, juicy nose of flowers, tropical fruits and a stony minerality (think water from a running stream). The flavors are ultra expressive this year, as yields were down thanks to the aforementioned frosts. The result is intense flavors - the wine explodes across your tongue offering juicy peach, tropical fruit and citrus flavors all with a touch of raw honey on the clean finish. Sign me up! This wine’s clarity and vibrancy make it a wonderful aperitif, or for pairing with fish and shellfish of all manner. Focus on simple flavors to allow the wine to dance and shine!

or reply. The wine is available today in Chapel Hill. Friday in Hillsborough.