Mâconnais

‘Burgundy pilgrims pelting up the Côte d’Or, impatient to take that selfie next to Romanée-Conti, are oblivious to one of France’s most picturesque wine regions, a cradle of top-notch Chardonnay that is translating its terroirs with increasing clarity and conviction.’ Neal Martin


2024 in the Mâconnais mimicked the Côte d’Or’s testing spring, but this southerly enclave found salvation in a luminous Indian summer. The result is a return to classicism: if recent years were vintages of the sun, 2024 is unequivocally a vintage of the soil. These are wines of tension and salinity, offering the complexity of the Côte de Beaune without the heavy price tag.

Domaine Barraud: The benchmark for consistency. From the high-altitude amphitheatre of Vergisson, Daniel and Julien Barraud treat their plots with the reverence of a Puligny Grand Cru. Their organic farming paid dividends this year, delivering wines of startling purity that balance fresh acidity with textural richness.

Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau: Rapidly shedding its status as an 'insider’s secret'. Frantz and his wife Caroline Gon (ex-Héritiers du Comte Lafon) focus on old vines and meticulous organic viticulture. Their 2024s are electric, crystalline, and showcase exactly why the smart money is moving south.


This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Frantz Chagnoleau and his wife Caroline Gon, who was until 2022 also the winemaker at the Comte Lafon Mâcon operation, are rising stars of the Mâconnais. Together they have a small domaine consisting of 3.5 hectares of Mâcon in a single block in Saint Albain, and several small plots in Viré Clessé, Saint Véran and Pouilly Fuissé, making up 6.8 hectares in total. All the vineyards are organically farmed (Ecocert certified).

Great care is taken at harvest to pick at the optimum moment for sugars, acidity and aromatic precursors, and they will stop the picking between parcels if they think that the ripening is not even across the whole domaine. Grapes are manually picked into 25kg cases, so as to get whole, undamaged grapes to the winery. After careful pressing, a very non-interventionist vinification takes place with natural yeasts in oak foudres or 600l demi-muids and a few traditional 225l pièces, with no new wood.

The wines are kept on the lees to preserve freshness until the beginning of summer, when they are racked and lightly filtered, before bottling before the next harvest, except for some of the top wines which are aged for another six months in tank in order to develop fully. The wines are in a style which is bright and incisive, expressive and pure - and well worth seeking out.

2024 was not too bad here - 20% less thanks to mildew in the Mâcon and a little coulure in the Pouilly Fuisses, but the other plots were largely unaffected. You get the impression that this cooler vintage suits Frantz's taste. I discovered that Frantz was maitre de stage to Damien Martin (Domaine de la Denante and maker of our own-label White Burgundy) when they were both at Olivier Merlin. He obviously taught him well.

2024 MÂCON VILLAGES Clos Saint Pancras Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 MÂCON VILLAGES Clos Saint Pancras Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Bottled at the end of July 2025. A much more 'classic' style after the comparative richness of 2022 and 2023, the 2024 is also all made in foudre. Fine and long, a full and yet lean mineral weight,Bottled at the end of July 2025. A much more 'classic' style after the comparative richness of 2022 and 2023, the 2024 is also all made in foudre. Fine and long, a full and yet lean mineral weight, it's a style Frantz prefers. Drinking range: 2027 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 12

In Bond

2024 SAINT VÉRAN de Prissé à Chasselas Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 SAINT VÉRAN de Prissé à Chasselas Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

In 2024 Caroline and Frantz have renamed their 'Prélude' to Saint Veran 'de Prissé à Chasselas' as they hope to convey more clearly the plots this fruit comes from, which are on limestone exposedIn 2024 Caroline and Frantz have renamed their 'Prélude' to Saint Veran 'de Prissé à Chasselas' as they hope to convey more clearly the plots this fruit comes from, which are on limestone exposed south, except one which faces west - so they all ripen quite early. Bottled after the 2025 harvest. Precision, purity, minerality - it's all of these, with quite a lively line of acidity which drives good weight with real zip. Drinking range: 2027 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 SAINT VÉRAN La Fournaise Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 SAINT VÉRAN La Fournaise Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Fifty year-old vines. on the top of the hill between Davayé and Prissé. Ripe, lots of weight, but arguably even more mineral drive - it's all so wrapped up in citrus. This is fab, but needs four orFifty year-old vines. on the top of the hill between Davayé and Prissé. Ripe, lots of weight, but arguably even more mineral drive - it's all so wrapped up in citrus. This is fab, but needs four or five years. 'I get the terroir again in this vintage, which is very limestone and mineral', says Frantz. Drinking range: 2029 - 2036L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 SAINT VÉRAN à la Côte Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 SAINT VÉRAN à la Côte Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

This is high (400m), facing due south on red soil, between Chasselas and Fuissé. Not the lean finesse and fine minerality of some of the other cuvées on the Prissé/Davayé side perhaps, but smoky andThis is high (400m), facing due south on red soil, between Chasselas and Fuissé. Not the lean finesse and fine minerality of some of the other cuvées on the Prissé/Davayé side perhaps, but smoky and rich and pretty darn gorgeous. Drinking range: 2027 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 VIRÉ-CLESSÉ Les Raspillères Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 VIRÉ-CLESSÉ Les Raspillères Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Bottled only 15 days before my visit, and this was not giving away much on the nose, but it has a slightly more exotic fruit. It's made in 500l demi-muids. Long and fine.Bottled only 15 days before my visit, and this was not giving away much on the nose, but it has a slightly more exotic fruit. It's made in 500l demi-muids. Long and fine. Drinking range: 2029 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 SAINT VÉRAN La Roche Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 SAINT VÉRAN La Roche Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Mid-slope, southwest facing, on the mineral soils of Chasselas. This gives off richness from the first nose, and the palate does not disappoint. Concentrated and expressive, it takes control at once.Mid-slope, southwest facing, on the mineral soils of Chasselas. This gives off richness from the first nose, and the palate does not disappoint. Concentrated and expressive, it takes control at once. 13.5% at the harvest, with perfect ph. It's a vineyard that gets a lot of millerandage, which reduces the yield and ups the concentration, so that he has to be careful in hot years, but in cool ones, he knows it will always ripen well. Powerful. Drinking range: 2028 - 2036L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Pastoral Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Pastoral Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Bottled 15 days before my visit and quite closed, even a little disjointed, but there is a clear sense of a flashing bright juiciness and it has all it needs to be very delicious from a couple ofBottled 15 days before my visit and quite closed, even a little disjointed, but there is a clear sense of a flashing bright juiciness and it has all it needs to be very delicious from a couple of years' time. Drinking range: 2028 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Madrigal Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Madrigal Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau

Fresh and floral nose, all in delicacy and precision. One of those white tablecloth wines. There is a touch of oak to be absorbed, but I like the whole thing so much - a fine saline slip to theFresh and floral nose, all in delicacy and precision. One of those white tablecloth wines. There is a touch of oak to be absorbed, but I like the whole thing so much - a fine saline slip to the finish, with concentration and length. Drinking range: 2029 - 2036L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

Domaine Barraud

We still see Daniel Barraud when we visit but today his children Julien and Anaïs are at the helm here. They have vineyards in Vergisson that are mostly high up under the famous rock (Vergisson lies between the two dramatic cliffs of the rocks of Solutré and Vergisson). The vineyards here are significantly higher than those of Fuissé, and are consequently later-ripening, and the wines often have a more solid structure - but they each have their own distinct characters, from the Puligny-like directness of the La Roche to the fat richness of the 'en Buland', via the mineral force of the Crays.

All the wines are made keeping close to the tenets of bio-dynamics - not for the sake of it - but because over the generations experience has taught them that these principles really are the best way forward - as such they only ever bottle on a waning moon. All the wines see some barrel ageing apart from the Chaintré, which is aged in foudre (2/3) and tank.

As Allen Meadows wrote on www.Burghound.com 'I have said this before, but I will say it again: no one makes better wine in the Mâconnais than Barraud. There are a few domaines that produce wines that are sometimes just as good, ... but none of them surpasses the quality he consistently produces. If you aren’t familiar with the wines, you owe it to yourself and your pocketbook to check them out.'

This 11 ha domaine was officially certified organic in 2011, formalising the way they had been working for many years before.

From the 2023 vintage the Barrauds have four vineyards that have been upgraded to Premier Cru status: 'En France', 'Les Crays', 'Sur la Roche', and la Verchère, although this last one changed its name to 'La Maréchaude' but retaining the parcel name of Verchère too. It's one of those oddities of such classifications that the vineyard which has consistently produced the Barraud's best wine for all the years that we have known them, 'En Buland', is not classified Premier Cru status as it faces north.

Julien was upbeat about the 2024s - they did get a mildew attack for three weeks in June, which did for the Macon Chaintré, but the rest of the cuvées were fine and they made an almost normal harvest off the rest. It's 2025 that really hit them as they made only half a harvest then, so stock up!

2024 MÂCON VILLAGES Harmonie Domaine Barraud

2024 MÂCON VILLAGES Harmonie Domaine Barraud

From bought-in fruit from a friendly (organic) grower, after their Macon Chaintré crop was destroyed by mildew at flowering. Bright and bouncy, good concentration, with Juliens's considered élevageFrom bought-in fruit from a friendly (organic) grower, after their Macon Chaintré crop was destroyed by mildew at flowering. Bright and bouncy, good concentration, with Juliens's considered élevage in foudres - it's delightfully easy to drink. Drinking range: 2026 - 2029L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 MÂCON VERGISSON La Roche Domaine Barraud

2024 MÂCON VERGISSON La Roche Domaine Barraud

Creamy and rich, there's more style and substance to this than his Mâcon Fuissé. Harmonious and bright, especially towards the end - the terroir (it's up on top of the rock of Vergisson) shinesCreamy and rich, there's more style and substance to this than his Mâcon Fuissé. Harmonious and bright, especially towards the end - the terroir (it's up on top of the rock of Vergisson) shines through. Drinking range: 2026 - 2030L&S (Dec 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 SAINT VÉRAN En Crèches Domaine Barraud

2024 SAINT VÉRAN En Crèches Domaine Barraud

Sleek substance to this refined cuvée, and a calm harmonious expression through the palate. Balance and silky appeal.Sleek substance to this refined cuvée, and a calm harmonious expression through the palate. Balance and silky appeal. Drinking range: 2026 - 2030L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 SAINT VÉRAN Les Pommards Domaine Barraud

2024 SAINT VÉRAN Les Pommards Domaine Barraud

Rich on the nose, and rich and creamy on the palate, partly from oak, but it's very much as this cuvée always is in terms of generosity and fullness. Powerfully long.Rich on the nose, and rich and creamy on the palate, partly from oak, but it's very much as this cuvée always is in terms of generosity and fullness. Powerfully long. Drinking range: 2027 - 2033L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Alliance-Vergisson Domaine Barraud

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Alliance-Vergisson Domaine Barraud

Very elegant - still full in the style of the domaine, but there's mineral brightness underpinning it. Well done.Very elegant - still full in the style of the domaine, but there's mineral brightness underpinning it. Well done. Drinking range: 2026 - 2031L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Les Châtaigniers Domaine Barraud

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Les Châtaigniers Domaine Barraud

Nose is fresh, floral, fern(?), and the palate is expressive too, a fleshy green expression, supple and attractive in a cool way. It's from 350m up on the east facing side of Fuissé - the sameNose is fresh, floral, fern(?), and the palate is expressive too, a fleshy green expression, supple and attractive in a cool way. It's from 350m up on the east facing side of Fuissé - the same altitude as their 'la Roche' in Vergisson, but not the same soil - here it's chailles - hard limestone that does not get into the soil in the same way as the degraded limestone of the Roche de Vergisson. An arid soil, Julien calls it. Drinking range: 2027 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ 1er Cru La Maréchaude Clos La Verchère Domaine Daniel Barraud

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ 1er Cru La Maréchaude Clos La Verchère Domaine Daniel Barraud

After tasting the wine from the lower part of this new Premier Cru (Maréchaude 'le Bas'), we move on to the part they've always bottled as 'La Verchère' and the class is immediate on the nose - muchAfter tasting the wine from the lower part of this new Premier Cru (Maréchaude 'le Bas'), we move on to the part they've always bottled as 'La Verchère' and the class is immediate on the nose - much more serious, and the palate has volume and a rather grand mineral expression - absolutely stunning. Drinking range: 2028 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ 1er Cru Sur la Roche Domaine Barraud

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ 1er Cru Sur la Roche Domaine Barraud

Whereas the Crays is almost fizzing with intensity and power, this is all lift and gossamer. There's big volume too, but it's all so calm and collected. Serene brilliance. Very long, and there's someWhereas the Crays is almost fizzing with intensity and power, this is all lift and gossamer. There's big volume too, but it's all so calm and collected. Serene brilliance. Very long, and there's some real intensity of the finish. Drinking range: 2030 - 2036L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ 1er Cru Les Crays Vieilles Vignes Domaine Daniel Barraud

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ 1er Cru Les Crays Vieilles Vignes Domaine Daniel Barraud

Very much in the style of this cuvée, with mineral density and power. Very concentrated richness of flavour. Intense and driven, long.Very much in the style of this cuvée, with mineral density and power. Very concentrated richness of flavour. Intense and driven, long. Drinking range: 2029 - 2035L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Vieilles Vignes En Buland Domaine Barraud

2024 POUILLY FUISSÉ Vieilles Vignes En Buland Domaine Barraud

Simply the richest and always the best of this cellar - it's the most harmonious of all too. It imposes itself quite calmly, but it certainly imposes. The Bâtard Montrachet of Pouilly Fuissé.Simply the richest and always the best of this cellar - it's the most harmonious of all too. It imposes itself quite calmly, but it certainly imposes. The Bâtard Montrachet of Pouilly Fuissé. Drinking range: 2030 - 2036L&S (Oct 2025)

75cl bottles, case of 6

In Bond