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Jean Rijckaert, Viré-Clessé, Les Vercherres, Vieilles Vignes

Other, France 2010 (750mL)
$29.00
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Jean Rijckaert, Viré-Clessé, Les Vercherres, Vieilles Vignes


Many of Rijckaert’s old vines are planted in Viré-Clessé, within the Mâconnais region, an hour south of some of Burgundy’s most famous appellations: Meursault, Puligny and Chassagne. In Viré-Clessé, the Mâconnais’ newest appellation that was granted status in 1999, Rijckaert’s old vines are known for producing some of the best wines in the area. Generally, as you probably know, the quality of White Burgundy from the Mâcon can vary—some are farmed cheaply, harvested by machine, and offered at ridiculously inexpensive prices, while others are crafted with in an attempt to make the best Chardonnay possible from the land. Jean Rijckaert’s 2010 “Les Vercherres” Vieilles Vignes is definitely the latter, and would disguise itself in a blind tasting for a bottle crafted from the region’s more famous northern counterparts at two to three times the cost. 

One of the reasons Jean Rijckaert’s wines are so noteworthy is because he learned from world-renowned Burgundy producers before he branched off to start his own winery. In the late 1980s, Rijckaert partnered with famed Jean-Marie Guffens to form Maison Verget—an estate whose reputation skyrocketed past both expectations and prestige for the Mâconnais region. Creating a name for himself at Verget, then moving forward to purchase old vines in the Mâconnais, Rijckaert has become a trusted source for high quality wines from the region. The vines are farmed organically, and made in a ultra traditional way—fermented with natural yeasts and aged in mostly neutral French Oak. 

The 2010 “Les Vercherres” Vieilles Vignes has a beautiful light golden yellow core that moves to green and gold reflections on the rim. Complex and perfectly mature, the aromatics exhibit aromas of freshly cut yellow apple, hazelnut, honeysuckle, lemon blossoms, stirred lees, white mushrooms, oyster shells and finely crushed limestone. The palate is just as compact, dense and layered as the nose, and simply near perfection for its lineage. The wine is round in texture and incredibly dense and mineral with flavors of yellow apple, preserved lemon, blanched nuts, finely crushed stones and a finish that seems to go on forever. This kind of concentration, body and freshness is rarely so harmonic for under $30 a bottle; this kind of complexity at this price is an anomaly, so don’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy this breathtaking wine. The wine is peaking now and should be consumed over the next one to two years, if kept well the wine will age, but will probably not get much better than its incredible state it is in now. For a delicious pairing, prepare this Coq au Vin Blanc recipe, produced using Chardonnay in place of Pinot Noir allowing it to pair perfectly with full bodied Chardonnay. You can follow any typical recipe which uses Pinot Noir and simply replace the wine you use, or follow this recipe for a perfect guide.
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Country
France
Region
Other
Sub-Region
FranceViré-Clessé
Soil
Limestone and Clay
Farming
Organic
Blend
Chardonnay
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
Neutral

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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