Winemaker Notes
An excellent accompaniment to shellfish such as scallops, veal or poultry, and ideal as an aperitif.
In 2016 Camille and Mathieu Paquet took over their family's estate located in the village of Davayé, which at the time was called Domaine des Valanges. Davayé is within the appellation of Saint-Veran in the Macon, and much of the winery’s holdings are inside this appellation as well. Formerly, Domaine des Valanges was producing typical Macon wines, that is to say, big volume wines at a low price. They were solid but nothing noteworthy and mostly destined for volume distribution. The Paquet brothers really wanted to do something of quality and not just continue to make "grocery store wine," if you will, so they started by changing the name to Famille Paquet and, over the years, have steadily been making improvements and investments. They converted to Organic farming and have since converted to Biodynamics and will be certified in 2023. They constructed a state-of-the-art new winery in which they were able to vinify the 2022 vintage. This allowed them to move out of their literal garage, giving them much more space. There is no more pumping as the grapes and wines are now moved solely by gravity, and the extra space means longer elevage times and investment in more tanks and barrels. In the garage, they had to bottle earlier because they had no room so the maximum ageing time was a year. Now for many of the cuvees, you will see 12-18 months before bottling, resulting in more complex wines. Lastly, they changed their vine training to effectively reduce yields by almost half. Previously they were farming like most in the Macon and averaged around 75 hl/ha, whereas now they aim for 45 hl/ha in a good year. All of these investments and improvements have resulted in wines that are several steps up in quality from the early vintages. These are now serious white burgundies, and Famille Paquet is positioning itself among the first tier of producers in the Macon region.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Dive into the holiday season with great value French wines from Bourgogne! If you don’t know the term, Bourgogne is the locals’ preferred word for Burgundy to highlight its winemaking heritage and culture. This prestigious wine region is home to lesser-known yet expressive Village appellations, such as Mercurey and Saint Bris. Whether it’s a dinner with friends, a family gathering, or a gift for the wine buff in your life, Bourgogne, or Burgundy wine, is perfect for any end-of-the-year occasion. Shop Burgundy wines today!
A legendary wine region setting the benchmark for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay worldwide, Burgundy is a perennial favorite of many wine lovers. While the concept of ‘terroir’ reigns supreme here—soil type, elevation and angle of each slope—this is a region firmly rooted in tradition. Because of the Napoleonic Code requiring equal distribution of property and land among all heirs, vineyard ownership in Burgundy is extremely fragmented, with some growers responsible for just one or two rows of vines. This system has led to the predominance of the "negociant"—a merchant who purchases fruit from many different growers to vinify and bottle together.
Burgundy’s cool, continental climate and Jurassic limestone soils are perfect for the production of elegant, savory and mineral-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with plenty of acidity. Vintage variation is of particular importance for Burgundy wine, as weather conditions can be variable and unpredictable. In some years spring frost and hail must be overcome.
The Côte d’Or, a long and narrow escarpment, forms the heart of the region, split into the Côte de Nuits to the north and the Côte de Beaune to the south. The former is home to many of the world’s finest Pinot Noir wines, while Chardonnay plays a much more prominent role in the latter, though outstanding red and white Burgundy wines are produced throughout. Other key appellations include the Côte Chalonnaise, home to great value Pinot Noir and sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne. The Mâconnais produces soft and round, value-driven Chardonnay while Chablis, the northernmost region of Burgundy, is a paradise for any lover of bright, acid-driven and often age-worthy versions of the grape.