Viré Clessé "les Pierres Blanches" is a wine produced from plots of an average age of 30 years. Most of the blend comes from a vine planted on a hilltop where the limestone bedrock was milled for planting. The soil is therefore a carpet of white pebbles on the surface, hence the name of this wine, "les Pierres Blanches". Vinification is natural, made 100% in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and fruit of this wine. To be enjoyed as an aperitif, with fish or shellfish, or aged goat cheeses.
The result is a fresh and vibrant wine, with the typical generous Macon fruit flavour, ending with tight mineral notes.
DOMAINE ANDRÉ BONHOMME, Viré - Organic
André Bonhomme’s first harvest took place in 1956. He was the first grower in the Mâconnais to bottle and sell his own wine, and was at the origin of the creation of the new Viré-Clessé appellation in 1998.
Today, son-in-law Eric Palthey and André’s daughter Jacqueline are in charge of the 11-ha estate, where their son, Aurélien (Oenologist) is taking centre stage. The viticulture is currently being converted to organic, large amounts of straw is still being dispersed in the vineyard, which helps fighting erosion and acts as a natural fertilizer, sheeps are let roaming in the vineyards, keeping the grass in check. The yields are very small, the grapes are hand-harvested and gently crushed, in full, in a pneumatic pressoir. Natural yeasts are used and all parcels are vinified separately before the final assemblage.