Domaine Guffens-Heynen : Saint-Véran Village "Cuvée Unique" 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Saint-Véran Village "Cuvée Unique" 2024 from Domaine Guffens-Heynen

Tasting

Colour
This wine reveals a golden-yellow hue, highlighted by subtle green tints.

Nose
The bouquet is precise and complex. It opens with aromas of white fruit such as pear and peach, alongside citrus and white flowers. Notes of brioche, toasted almond and frangipane then add richness, while a mineral backbone of flint and iodine runs throughout.

Palate
Showing lovely density, the palate offers a silky, fleshy texture. The saline acidity brings a mouthwatering tension, leading to a very long, persistent finish.

Food and wine pairing

This gastronomic wine pairs perfectly with fine fish such as sea bass en papillote, seafood such as roasted razor clams, or delicate poultry served with lightly creamy sauces.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate this wine, serve it at 12°C and decant it before tasting. It can be cellared and enjoyed until around 2036.

A fresh, well-balanced Chardonnay from the Mâconnais

The estate

Founded in 1979 with the purchase of its first vines in Pierreclos, Domaine Guffens-Heynen is a benchmark in Burgundy. Located in the Mâconnais, this 3.3-hectare estate was established by a couple of Flemish origin. Today, Jean-Marie Guffens remains the owner and winemaker. Nicknamed the "goldsmith of Chardonnay", he pursues a philosophy of precision with very low yields. The estate's international renown rests on artisanal winemaking, which produces wines of great purity. No grapes are ever bought in from outside.

The vineyard

The grapes come from three terroirs in the Saint-Véran appellation, nestled against the Roche de Solutré. The south-facing Clos des Poncetys lies on shallow limestone soils that impart a strong minerality. Les Combes and Les Carettes face north and thrive on deeper clay and clay-limestone soils, which give the berries structure and freshness. The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand.

The vintage

2024 was marked by episodes of frost that hit certain plots particularly hard and significantly reduced yields. Despite these climatic challenges, conditions at the end of the season allowed the berries to reach optimal ripeness before they were harvested in mid-September.

Winemaking and ageing

The making of this wine relies on extremely precise pressing. Only the first-press juice from the Les Combes and Les Carettes plots was selected and then blended with the entire small crop from Clos des Poncetys. Fermentation takes place entirely in oak barrels, with no lees stirring, in order to preserve aromatic clarity. The oak ageing remains discreet and well integrated.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay