Château de Javernand, Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay
Château de Javernand, Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay

Château de Javernand, Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay

Burgundy, France 2021 (750mL)
Regular price$29.00
/
Your cart is empty.
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way
Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol

Château de Javernand, Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay

We’ve been saying this quite a bit lately: The Mâconnais is the most dynamic region in Burgundy right now. Especially for white wines. Because this southern part of Burgundy is marginally warmer and drier than the luxury precincts of the Côte de Beaune, it has always been counted on to deliver a riper, more immediately accessible breed of Chardonnay—at a much lower price than what they’re charging in Puligny, Meursault, etc. But today’s wine, like so many Mâcon whites we’ve tried lately, adds a new wrinkle to the story, in the form of focus, vibrancy, precision, and detail. 


Château de Javernand’s vineyards in Mâcon are in Serrières, a village just west of Vergisson and its huge limestone roche (“rock”), so while they’ve labeled it “Macon-Villages,” this isn’t just any old village we’re talking about. This is next-level Mâcon, a wine every bit as good as any down in these parts. The terroir is just as good, the farming is organic, the winemaking pristine. All that’s missing is an extra $10 on the price tag. There’s a revolution afoot in the Mâcon, and you’d be wise to join in!


I know that sounds melodramatic, but c’mon: The traditional Burgundy “hierarchy” of appellations (and attendant land values) feels increasingly hidebound when you come across thoughtful small producers like Château de Javernand. As I noted in this morning’s offer, this estate is headquartered in the Beaujolais commune of Chiroubles, but includes 6.5 hectares of vines in Serrières. 

\r\n

This Mâcon-Villages bottling has traditionally been labeled with the initials, “JP,” a shout-out to Jacques Prost, father of Javernand partner Pierre, who farmed and made wines in Serrières until 2013, when he passed the torch to the new generation. The Javernand history is an interesting commingling of two families: Pierre Prost and Arthur Forneau, both sons of winemakers, first met in engineering school years ago, eventually partnering up to take over Javernand, which was acquired by Arthur’s great-grandfather, August Faye, in 1917. Pierre also ended up marrying Arthur’s cousin, Mathilde, who also helps run the estate.

\r\n

Both in Chiroubles and Mâcon, the partners have prioritized the conversion to organic agriculture above all else. Only about a 30-minute drive separates Chiroubles and Serrières, so being “hands-on” is hardly a problem, and it should surprise no one that their efforts in the vineyards are reflected in the purity and vivacity of the wines. 

\r\n

This Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay doesn’t fit the Mâcon stereotype: it’s not a big, blowsy wine. It’s taut and focused, albeit with enough texture to be immensely satisfying right out of the bottle. In the glass, it shines a bright straw-gold with silver/green highlights, jumping from the glass with scents of green apple, underripe white peach, lemon curd, brioche dough, white flowers, and wet stones. It is medium-plus in body, with a refreshing citrusy jolt to it, and, while I could see it evolving nicely over the next few years, I’d rather get it in heavy rotation as a house pour right now. Splash-decant it and serve at 45-50 degrees in all-purpose stems. You won’t find a white Burgundy with a higher QPR (quality/price ratio) anytime soon. Don’t miss this!

\r\n

Château de Javernand, Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay
Country
Region
Sub-Region
Soil
Farming
Blend
Alcohol
TEMP.
Glassware
Drinking
Decanting
Pairing

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.

Others We Love