Maison Valette

is a highly regarded family-run winery located in the Mâconnais region of Burgundy, France. They are celebrated for their biodynamic and natural winemaking approach, which results in uniquely expressive and long-aged Chardonnay wines.

Winemaking Philosophy and History

The Valette family has been making wine for three generations in the village of Chaintré, with a history that traces back to the early 1900s. The current winemaker, Philippe Valette, is considered a visionary vigneron and a key figure in the natural wine movement.

• Early Transition: Philippe's father, Gérard Valette, was a pioneer in the region, transitioning from selling grapes to the local cooperative to bottling his own estate wines in the 1970s.

• Embracing Biodynamics: After joining the estate in 1990, Philippe took the family's farming practices a step further by converting the vineyards to organic farming and introducing biodynamic methods in 1992. This philosophy of respecting the soil and the natural environment is central to their winemaking.

• Minimal Intervention: The Maison Valette philosophy is characterized by a "nothing added, nothing taken away" approach. They utilize indigenous yeasts for fermentation, age their wines for extended periods on the lees in neutral oak barrels without racking, and often avoid fining or filtration.

The Wines

Maison Valette specializes exclusively in Chardonnay. Their wines are known for their profound concentration, intensity, and purity, often defying the typical expectations of Mâconnais Chardonnay.

• Long-Term Aging: One of the most distinctive aspects of their winemaking is the extended aging process, which can last from a minimum of two years to as many as twelve for some cuvées. This patient approach allows the wines to develop immense complexity and a truly unique character.

• Unique Expressions of Terroir: The wines are made from grapes grown across 15 hectares in the villages of Chaintré, Vinzelles, and Vergisson. This meticulous vineyard work results in wines that are powerful, precise, and expressive of their specific terroirs.

• Key Wines: Some of their most celebrated cuvées include Pouilly-Fuissé and Viré-Clessé, as well as the mythical Clos Reyssié and Clos de Monsieur Noly, which are known to be exceptional monuments to the glory of Chardonnay.