Best Saône-et-Loire Alcoholic Beverage Types
Pouilly-Fuissé is a French appellation for Chardonnay-based white wines that is located in the Mâconnais subregion of Burgundy. The entire appellation includes the villages of Fuissé, Solutré Pouilly, Vergisson, and Chaintré.
The wines produced in the region are often praised for their rich texture and aromatic complexity. They range from pale to deep gold, usually streaked with green highlights. Typical aromas found in Pouilly-Fuissé wines include hazelnuts, almonds, citrus, white fruit, honey, brioche, as well as herbaceous nuances.
This French appellation includes twenty-six villages in the Mâconnais wine region of southern Burgundy. The region of Mâcon-Villages produces Chardonnay-based wines that may slightly differ in character due to different soil composition, but they are typically smooth, medium-bodied, light, and refreshing.
Their color ranges from pale to straw yellow, while the typical aromas include acacia, honeysuckle, citrus, and white flowers, as well as herbal notes of fern, verbena, or fennel. These wines make a great aperitif, but they can also match various appetizers such as and creamy meat or fish-based dishes.
Saint-Véran is a French wine region that produces Chardonnay-based white wines. The appellation is located around Saint-Vérand, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department of Bourgogne. The wines produced in the region are mineral, lively, and fresh.
They are usually pale yellow and crystal clear with typical floral and fruity notes reminiscent of peach, pear, acacia, and honeysuckle. With age, they tend to develop richer expressions of honey and nuts, and they can also display nuances of citrus and exotic fruit.
Chénas is the smallest grand cru in the prominent Beaujolais appellation which is located in between the Rhone and Saone-et-Loire departments. Interestingly, the city of Chénas is located in the Moulin-a-Vent wine region.
Chénas appellation produces full-bodied Gamay-based wines that are flavorful, full of character, and which can age exceptionally well. In their youth, the wines usually display floral aromas of rose and peony that tend to develop into more complex nuances of spices and wood as the wine ages.
Because of their rich flavor, Chénas wines can match hearty and robust dishes such as poultry, pork, or red meat served in creamy or spicy sauces, as well as fatty fish varieties such as salmon and soft or semi-hard cheese varieties.
Mercurey is a French appellation located in the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy that produces full-bodied ruby red wines from Pinot Noir grapes. These wines are usually round and smooth with typical notes of red fruit reminiscent of cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, which are often complemented by a spicy finish.
With age, characteristic red fruit notes tend to develop into tobacco, undergrowth, truffle, or cocoa. These wines can match rich grilled, roasted, or braised dishes made with beef, lamb, or pork. They can also work well with soft or hard cheese varieties.
THE BEST Mercurey Rouge Wine Appellations
Saint-Amour is a French appellation located in Beaujolais that produces ruby red Gamay based wines. The wines are often classified into two distinct styles—one light and fruity, while the other undergoes longer maceration and tends to come off as bolder and more structured.
Often dubbed as the most feminine expression in Beaujolais, Saint-Amour wines are aromatic, mineral, and intense, while the typical aromas include fruity and floral notes of berries, peony, stone fruit, and occasionally spices and kirsch. Despite differences in style, both of Saint-Amour Beaujolais have mellow tannins, making them a perfect accompaniment to lighter dishes.
Best Saône-et-Loire Alcoholic Beverage Producers
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2020
BEST Château De Fuissé Wines
AWARDS
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Gold
2023
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Master
2023
BEST Terroir Distillers Spirits
Yohan Lardy is a fifth-generation winemaker from Beaujolais, France. After gaining international experience, including a harvest in Chile, he returned to his native village of Fleurie in 2011 to establish his own domaine. He began by acquiring vineyards in the esteemed "Les Michelons" climat of Moulin-à-Vent, with vines planted in 1911 and 1950.
Dedicated to organic viticulture, Yohan manages approximately six hectares of vineyards, cultivating Gamay and Chardonnay grapes. He employs traditional methods such as hand harvesting and whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts, avoiding the use of sulfur during fermentation.
Best Saône-et-Loire Alcoholic Beverages
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024
AWARDS
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Master
2023
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2024
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2020
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2021
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2019
AWARDS
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Gold
2023
AWARDS
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Gold
2023
Yohan Lardy's "Vignes de 1903" Moulin-à-Vent 2021 is a distinguished red wine from the Beaujolais region in France. Crafted from Gamay grapes harvested from vines planted in 1903, this wine embodies a rich heritage and showcases the unique terroir of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation.
The wine undergoes semi-carbonic maceration with native yeasts for 18 days in concrete vats, followed by aging for 9 months in neutral French oak casks. This traditional approach enhances the wine's structure and complexity. This versatile wine pairs well with sweet and savory dishes, red meats, and game.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 97 points
2023
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