Top Mâconnais 2020 en primeur wines

At the end of a relatively warm and sunny winter season, budbreak in the Mâconnais occurred at the end of March. According to Audrey Braccini of Domaine J.A. Ferret, the rains at the end of April ensured that the vines were an entire month ahead of an average vintage. This advance continued as flowering was completed in mid-May and an ample crop was set on the vines. Scroll down for tasing notes and scores of Charles' top-scoring Mâconnais 2020 wines [subscriber-content]There was welcome rain in June throughout much of the region, but there was little pressure from mildew or rot. Most of the month was sunny and warm, with the first signs of veraison occurring in early July. Braccini notes that there were variations within the Mâconnais and that the northern sector was drier than the region south of Fuissé, thus producing wines of greater concentration. Picking began on the 24th August and a large, healthy crop was brought in, with all the generosity of 2018 but better acidity levels. See the score table listing Charles' top Mâconnais 2020 wines all scoring 95 points or above See all 650 Burgundy 2020 tasting notes and scores How the Mâconnais 2020 wines are tasting Lovely wines were produced throughout the Mâconnais, particularly from the appellations Mâcon-Villages, Pouilly-Fuissé, St-Véran, Viré-Clessé and Mâcon-Vergisson, where many sites face east or northeast and sit high on the slope. This location helped mitigate the effects of the heat in 2020. Viré and Clessé were classed with Mâcon-Villages until 1999 when they became the first village-level wines to break out from this semi-regional category. Both are located in the northern part of this zone. Wines from local specialist Domaine Les Grands Crays were delicious. Quick links: See further analysis and top-scoring wines of the following areas:

Côte de Beaune | Côte de Nuits | Côte Chalonnaise

The first year for Pouilly-Fuissé's premier crus It was also a solid year for Pouilly-Fuissé. It is gratifying that the first year to see wines labelled as premier cru was so successful. Here the grapes ripened well but retained a lively acidity. Delicious wines were produced throughout the zone, although those around Vergisson stand out here as well. Look for the lieu-dit La Roche to explore these well-balanced wines. Growers also made delicious wine in the southernmost reaches of the Mâconnais such as St-Véran, and Verget enjoyed particular success. In the warm, sunny conditions of 2020, the Mâconnais delivered lush fruit, but there was also solid value, and top producers have given us wines of balance and even tension. [breakout] Mâconnais 2020 top-value wines: Domaine Ferret, Hors-Classe Tournant de Pouilly Cuvée, 1er Cru Les Reisses, 2020 Domaine Barraud, La Roche, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Vergisson, 2020 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon, Clos du Four, Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine, 2020 Mâconnais 2020 top producers: Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Verget ( These two producers delivered fine work across many appellations ) Domaine J.A. Ferret Domaine Daniel & Julien Barraud Château-Fuissé ( These three producers stand out for their Pouilly-Fuissé ) [/breakout] [/subscriber-content] See tasting notes and scores for Charles Curtis MW's top-scoring Mâconnais 2020 wines [wine-collection] Related content: Burgundy 2020 en primeur: Full report plus top-scoring wines Top 2020 Côte Chalonnaise en primeur wines Top 2020 Côte de Beaune en primeur wines