André Bonhomme Viré-Clessé ‘Les Prêtres de Quintaine’ 2016

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Bonhomme’s Prêtres de Quintaine is a cuvée produced in tiny quantities (about 2,000 bottles). This powerful blend is very refined coming from very old vines of close to 100 years of age situated on the Quintaine lieu-dit, which sits at point where the communes of Viré and Clessé meet. Quintaine is a climat in the heart of the appellation which is unique on account of its soils (limestone from the Middle Jurassic Bathonian period and marl from the Upper Jurassic Oxfordian period) and also from its east/south east exposure.

The name of the cuvée in fact comes from the fact the parcel is planted on the slope facing the Quintaine chapel. The wine is fermented and aged for 24 months in oak casks. The result is a distinguished, minerally wine with beautiful layers which will take some years to fully fan out.

About Domaine André Bonhomme

Founded in 1956 by André Bonhomme and his wife Gisèle, then Domaine has grown from 4 ha of Mâcon Viréto 12ha of the clayey-limestone soil of the communes of Viré and Clessé. 98% white wine (Chardonnay) the balance Gamay for red.

The beginnings weren’t easy, but over the years the Domaine André Bonhomme developed a first-class reputation founded on its superbly-controlled vinification and its consistent emphasis on quality.

For over fifty years, André Bonhomme has played a major role in the Mâcon region not only by being a precursor of estate-bottling, but also by being co-founder of the Vignerons Indépendants of Saône-et-Loire and co-initiator of the recognition of the AOC Viré Clessé. You know when a vigneron establishes an AOC that they have to be making solid vino!

Currently, the estate is managed by André Bonhomme’s son-in-law, Eric Palthey, and André’s daughter Jacqueline, in conjunction with their sons Aurélien and Johan.
The Domaine operates in organic viticulture.

Our history is our region, reflected in the appellation Viré-Clessé. A very young appellation, born in 1998, is the result of grouping the parcels of the communes of Viré and Clessé for a total area of 430 ha. The appellations Mâcon Viré and Mâcon Clessé were discontinued with the 1998 vintage.

This vineyard has long merited its own distinct appellation, since it has a range of such distinct characteristics.

The Domaine operates in organic viticulture.

The Domain’s dry white wines, with their seductive mineral and exotic properties, are excllent. These are wines that can be kept for several years without any problem.

Like Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran, Viré-Clessé has establishes its status in the Mâcon as a great Burgundy wine.

The 2016 Vintage at Domaine André Bonhomme

As Aurélien Palthey was a relatively early harvester in 2015 for a producer in the northern Mâconnais, starting on September 7, I was surprised to hear that he did not begin the 2016 harvest until October 5. There was no hail in ’16, he explained, and the main challenge was to have “correct” yields. “There were a lot of very high crop levels among our neighbors, and it was a challenge to get enough potential alcohol.” Palthey, who says he looks for “good ripeness and pH levels but not wines that are too green,” picked with grape sugars between 13% and 13.5%, describing the wines as having a classic balance—“better than 2015.” The earlier vintage, he went on, featured very concentrated white fruits, while 2016 is more about yellow fruits with more power. Post-malo acidity levels in 2016 are in the healthy 4.15 to 4.2 grams-per-liter range. “It was more of a challenge to maintain freshness in 2015,” he told me, “but getting structured wines was easy.” Palthey does not believe in batonnage, noting that “we already have enough structure in our grapes and in our juice.”

Where in the World is Domaine André Bonhomme?

The Mâconnaise – Is capable of producing some very good wines. It has become a shining light for value with the ever increasing prices of Burgundy. We’ve seen producers like Comte Lafon from Meursault recognise the potential of the region, establishing the joint venture Domaine Héritiers du Comte Lafon.

It is home to the Village of Chardonnay, the geographic home of the grape! Bonhomme’s Viré Clessé comes from roughly the middle of the region.