Burgundy conjures up images of amazing Chardonnays along with Pinot Noir. Some would argue that Burgundy produces the world's best Chardonnay when you consider the wines of Meursault, Musigny, Montrachet, and many more white Burgundies that don't begin with 'M.'  When describing it, one of the most overused compliments to a Chardonnay is that 'it's almost Burgundian in nature.' And these wines are generally sold at very premium prices because they are so good. So you can imagine my enthusiasm when I was offered to try a White Burgundy made from 100% Chardonnay that we can sell for under $10.

Cave de Lugny is the largest producer of Burgundy wines, the biggest producer of Macon-Villages wines, and is responsible for one-third of the production of all Maconnais wines. With 3,100 acres of planted Chardonnay vineyards in 20 different Burgundy appellations, it is safe to say Cave de Lugny knows Chardonnay, and all its intricacies, in Burgundy.

Cave de Lugny is a cooperative, the second established in Macon in 1926. They started with 116 wine growers pooling their resources to create a successful winery. Today they are over 400 hardworking growers responsible for an amazing state-of-the-art wine-making facility that is the industry's envy, which no one owner could afford. Being a co-op ensures constancy in sustainably farmed quality grapes and eliminates the middleman to keep costs down, compared to the grower –> winemaker –> négociant, typical Burgundy distribution system. This is a long way of saying they make delicious Burgundy wine at very reasonable prices.

 "We produce wines with protected designations of origin which are building our reputation over the long term. Our vineyards, and our winery, which is the extension of these vineyards, are founded for several generations of wine growers. Together we have the ability and determination to move forward for the benefit of all", said Marc Sangoy, President of Cave de Lugny.

Cave de Lugny entry-level Chardonnay is their Macon Village La Cote Blanche that sources the grapes from its owners in Macon, unlike other Macon Villages wines, where a negociant buys from growers and blends the wine. This advantage gives Cave de Lugny first access to some of the best fruit the Mâconnais offers. Cave de Lugny is all estate-grown fruit which allows them to have tighter controls in vineyard practices—vineyards average 30 years of age and limestone soil (ideal for Chardonnay). The wine goes through 100% malolactic fermentation to soften the acids and is aged a minimum of six months on its lees to add texture and complexity. Vinified and aged in large temperature-controlled tanks, the wine is completely unoaked, adding to the crisp vibrancy to the wine. Their Macon Village La Cote Blanche is a testament to its high standards.

Cave de Lugny sets the bar very high for its growing standards for all of the vineyards in the cooperative. These standards of sustainability, fruit quality, and harvest timing ensure the best fruit from year to year. Cave de Lugny qualifies as a certified sustainable producer and complies with strict standards for vine treatment and wine production to ensure the best quality fruit at a minimal environmental cost, which they feel is more transparent than an organic designation. Since 2011 they have reduced the co-op's fuel consumption by 21%, gas consumption for tractors and transportation down 33%, and lowered their water consumption by 28%. As a side note, all Cave de Lugny wines have been produced as Vegan since 2019.

Cave de Lugny, Macon Villages is a kind of wine that you can drink a bottle of and not wake up the next day hating yourself. Not only is it a clean, crisp, and pure Chardonnay, but drinking it gives you many reasons to feel good about yourself. The growers share the profits of growing and making the wine, not letting a negociant taking of a hefty slice of the profits. The wine is kept fresh by the winery by bottling this wine monthly when it is ordered from argon/nitrogen-topped tanks. The pallets of wine ordered are delivered to our distributors' warehouse directly each month, never held at a supplier's consolidating warehouse for months at a time. The result is a fresh wine, no older than eight weeks from bottling at any time of the year, cutting out many middlemen and keeping costs down. The wine is made environmentally friendly, and it is Vegan. All good reasons to make the hangover bearable.

The nose is fresh with delicate notes of citrus, white flowers, and honey. The palate is elegant with a rich, rounded mouthfeel, expressive fruits, and refreshing minerality.

Cave de Lugny, Macon Villages La Cote Blanche 2021

We had a luncheon with Cave de Lugny oenologist Grégoire with our entire Yankee Wine Staff last week. Although all our wine geeks were oohing and awing over the single vineyard wines, I was particularly impressed with the humble Macon Villages they call La Cote Blanche. I wondered how an estate bottle of French Chardonnay from Southern Burgundy costs this little and still tastes this good. Straw yellow in color, aromas of apples, pear, and citrus carry into the mouth with some mineral tones. Complex rich fruit that stays clean due to the crisp acid followed by a long lime finish. At our everyday price of $10.99, this wine costs less than half of most Macon Villages on our shelves. At a final cost of $7 for this Macon Villages, it is an oxymoron of biblical proportions. It is no wonder we sell as much as we do, and it is one of Dena's favorite wines for her wedding packages. I know many know of this wine already and will want to take advantage of this unbelievable offer. If you are not already a believer but are tired of Californian overly extracted, buttery, blah Chardonnays, this is the wine you have been searching for, and you should take advantage of this $7 bargain.

Regular Price: $10.99

Internet Average: $14.00

*Sale Price is on 12 or more bottle purchase

Mail-in-Rebate $24 on 12-bottle purchase

Final Cost is $7.00 after MIR

MIR is limited to one per household

Rebate expires 8/31/23

Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.

Cheers!

John Hannum,

Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

Attleboro

628 Washington St.

Norwood

942 Providence Hgwy.

Sturbridge

376 Main Street.

Swansea

207 Swansea Mall Dr.

Monday-Saturday

9AM to 9PM