Domaine de la Soufrandière - La Combe des Roches 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

North-facing hillside vineyards, 70% vinified in vats. It evokes a sea breeze, a fresh, salty, sappy air, with crisp white fruit on the finish. It embodies the house style.

About the estate:

The Bret brothers, who are never short of ideas or inventiveness, have become a benchmark in the Mâconnais region thanks to their expert mastery of biodynamics. Most of the work in the vineyard is done by hand, apart from plowing and treatments (using tractors or horses), and their vineyards have become a playground for researchers from INRA. La Soufrandière is the family estate covering 11 hectares, now Demeter certified. Bret Brothers is the wine merchant business, buying grapes and producing 15 micro-vintages (ten of which are certified organic). The wines are always remarkably energetic and pure, with unparalleled digestibility. One of the region's model addresses, to be trusted with confidence.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

With a north-facing climate, the 2017 Saint-Véran La Combe Des Roches opens in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp green apple, and white flowers. On the palate, it is dense, satiny, and incisive, with lively acidity and a chalky, precise finish. This is a very fine performance from this new cuvée for La Soufrandière.

About the estate:

Domaine La Soufrandière is the family estate of the dynamic brothers Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume Bret (for reviews of their négociant project, see Bret Brothers), where they produce beautifully satiny, pure, flavorful, and expressive wines. Organically grown and harvested by hand, the grapes are pressed whole before fermentation in barrels, with the wines often finishing their aging on lees in stainless steel vats to preserve their tension.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Bright golden color, intense floral nose with notes of honeysuckle. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, with little oak influence. A fresh overall impression reminiscent of grapefruit bitterness on the finish.

About the estate:

Acquired by Jules Bret in 1947, the La Soufrandière estate saw the Bret brothers, Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume, start out in Vinzelles with the 2000 vintage. From then on, the choice of biodynamics became obvious. They were certified Demeter in 2006 and have continued to experiment both in the vineyard and in the cellar to enhance their terroirs with infinite care. Wines with little or no sulfur are marked with the word "Zen" on the label. Alongside this estate, a high-end wine trading business was created in 2001, Bret Brothers, which is of course featured in our guide.

Burghound