At A Glance
- Base
- Pierreclos, Mâconnais
- Vineyard area
- 6.8 hectares
- Farming
- Ecocert certified organic since 2013
- Bottle
- Saint Véran La Roche
- Range
- Mâconnais appellation wines from several vineyard plots
The Producer
Frantz Chagnoleau and Caroline Gon founded the domaine, and its first harvest came in 2010. Frantz holds a degree in oenology and trained as cellar master with Olivier Merlin between 2004 and 2009. Caroline holds degrees in agricultural engineering and oenology, and worked at Newton Vineyards in Napa Valley before returning to France.
Since 2013, all the vineyards have been Ecocert certified organic. The cellar follows a minimal intervention philosophy, with the wines made from holdings spread across several Mâconnais appellations.
Place
Pierreclos is the domaine's base in the Mâconnais. The holdings include a 3.5 hectare block in Saint Albain and several small plots in Viré Clessé, Saint Véran and Pouilly Fuissé.
The range carries the names of the surrounding appellations, from Mâcon and Mâcon Villages to Viré Clessé, Saint Véran and Pouilly Fuissé. Each name places the wine within a different part of the Mâconnais label system.
Wines
The domaine produces Mâcon, Mâcon Villages, Viré Clessé, Saint Véran and Pouilly Fuissé. Pouilly Fuissé Pastoral has a balanced palate with a fine thread of acidity. Saint Véran La Fournaise and Saint Véran La Roche are named Saint Véran bottlings from the range.
Saint Véran La Roche has nuanced oak influenced character. Its vineyard source and ageing sequence give the bottle a more specific place and cellar profile than the broader appellation wines.
In The Glass
Saint Véran La Fournaise has wonderful bite and bounce, with a complex, busy palate carrying ripe, beautiful, complete fruit. The acidity keeps the palate active while the fruit fills out the middle of the wine.
Saint Véran La Roche has a nuanced oak influenced character. The barrel contribution sits within the wine instead of replacing its fruit, leaving a rounded impression alongside the fresh white wine profile.
A Bottle To Understand It
Open Saint Véran La Roche. It comes from Chardonnay vines that are 70 years old on a 0.42 hectare parcel in the La Roche climat of Saint Véran. The wine ages one year in old 228 litre oak barrels, followed by six months in stainless steel before bottling.
Old barrels can add oak flavour and texture, while stainless steel keeps the later ageing vessel neutral. The bottle therefore carries both a named parcel and a clearly defined élevage sequence.
Final Word
Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau brings together two oenology trained makers, organic vineyard work and a Mâconnais range divided among appellations and parcels.