Domaine de la Collonge Macon-Fuissé 2007

Excellence and consistency go hand in hand at Domaine de la Collonge. Gilles Noblet’s 2007 Macon-Fuissé is a bright shimmering wine in both color and flavor. With every sip of this racy white wine, one sees and tastes the golden clusters of Chardonnay grapes that mature gently and slowly under the Maconnais sun. What's more, the 2007 Domaine de la Collonge Macon-Fuissé exhibits as much flavor as Noblet’s elegant, seductive Pouilly-Fuissé. On the nose, this stylish Macon-Fuissé offers up the beguiling scents of acacia flowers and apple blossoms. On the palate, the 2007 Domaine de la Collonge Macon-Fuissé follows through with gentle fruit, pinpoint purity, and subtle minerality – all of which add up to an elegant, nuanced, refreshing glass of Chardonnay that will please even the most ardent critics of overblown, over-oaked Chardonnays. And like Pouilly-Fuissé, the 2007 Domaine de la Collonge Macon-Fuissé is best served well chilled (40° F), at least initially, and then allowed to evolve slowly in the glass. Salut!

The 2007 Domaine de la Collonge Macon-Fuissé is an easy wine to drink, as an aperitif and with food. It is an easy white wine to pair with food because it provides understated elegance to complement a wide variety of dishes, especially those made with fish and other fine fruits of the sea. Scallop and crab dishes constitute some of our favorite offerings with Gilles Noblet’s wines. Scallops sautéed in a light cream sauce with pistachio nuts are a perennial favorite. A simple crab cocktail or dip offers another memorable pairing to Gilles Noblet’s elegant 2007 Macon-Fuissé. Flounder stuffed with crabmeat makes a wonderful partner, too. In addition, baked or grilled sole, sea bass, and grouper offer other fine choices with this wine. And for those not beholden to the sea for sustenance, imaginative chicken salads, light pastas, and healthy organic greens served with dried cranberries and goat cheese present other excellent pairings with this dazzling Macon-Fuissé. Furthermore, short of French Champagne, we cannot think of a better way to kick off a relaxing evening or a pleasant interlude than with a bottle of Gilles Noblet’s 2007 Macon-Fuissé. Moreover, this wine complements a wide array of fruits and cheeses, so we suggest you keep an extra bottle or two on hand to share after dinner with friends. It will help wash away the weather-stained cares of life. Enjoy!

Gilles Noblet at Domaine de la Collonge continues to fashion some of the Macon’s (the area of southern Burgundy that is known for its elegant Chardonnay wines) finest and most enjoyable white wines from several renowned appellations. Noblet’s Domaine de la Collonge is a small family-owned and -run domain of only 22 acres. Gilles is the fourth-generation member of his family to make wine at this prized property. For the record, Gilles’ wife also comes from a traditional winemaking family. Madame Noblet is the sister of Jacky Janodet of Domaine des Fine Graves in nearby Moulin-à-Vent, so wine and winemaking run deep in the heart and soul of this couple as well as in the terroir of the domaine’s well-tended vineyards. The name Domaine de la Collonge derives from the sector or area (known as an aire) of the Fuissé commune that is called Collonge. Most of Gilles Noblet’s estate is spread along the hills of la Collonge, which yield on average only a little more than six thousand cases of Pouilly-Fuissé each year. However, Monsieur Noblet also fashions small quantities of exceptional Macon-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, and St. Véran – all elegant Chardonnay wines from the Macon similar to Pouilly-Fuissé. Although not certified organic, Gilles Noblet practices sustainable agriculture and uses non-interventionist methods at Domaine de la Collonge. No artificial fertilizers or insecticides are employed, and only natural yeast is used in fermentation. Moreover, the average age of the vines for Domaine de la Collonge is more than forty years, while many vines are considerably older. Noblet’s old vines and reduced yields result in wines that are more generous and concentrated than the average Maconnais white. In appellations that traditionally turn out large quantities of wine, Gilles Noblet decided a long time ago to dance to a different beat. Rather, the Noblet style of Chardonnay is one of elegance, purity, and the honest expression of each appellation’s terroir. Noblet’s Macon-Fuissé and Pouilly-Fuissé feature a real balance between flesh and bone, fruit and minerality, if you will. In addition, Noblet uses traditional wooden foudres (large wooden tanks) with temperature control elements for fermentation to ensure texture and a gentle roundness in his wine. He also ages his wine in a combination of foudres and small oak barriques; only 20% or less are new each year. The limited use of new oak is practiced expressly, so that the oak barrels impart roundness and texture to the wine, rather than the overwhelming taste of oak that destroys the natural delicacy of Macon-Fuissé and its siblings. In essence, the wines of Domaine de la Collonge are classic white Burgundies as well as some of the most compelling wines of the Maconnais.