Buying options
Tasting notes
Bright, flecks of green. Richness evident, glass-coating. Ripe, smoky, green apple, stone fruit, apricot, ripe peach. Hint of mandarin. Palate is full bodied, concentrated, rich, but with balancing freshness, real penetrating acid backbone. Complex. Lovely weight and mouthfeel, will age but accessible now. Floral, blossom finish. Unique style, memorable. Best ever?
Bright, flecks of green. Richness strongly evident, glass-coating. Ripe, smoky, green apple, stone fruit, apricot, ripe peach, with a hint of mandarin. Palate is full-bodied, concentrated, rich, but with balancing freshness and a real penetrating acid backbone. Complex with lovely weight and mouthfeel, will age but accessible now. Floral blossom finish and a unique, memorable style. Best ever? Nov 2016
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Magnum. Much less expressive on the nose than the 2012. More mineral than fruity. Lots of chalky texture on the grainy finish. (JR)
Lively and rich with some hazelnuts and real depth. Very difficult to spit this! Pure pleasure. Rich baked-apple flavours. (JR)
The 2011 Viré-Clessé Quintaine Cuvée E.J. Thevenet comes from vines on Oxfordian limestone soils and is the one to go for if you like to keep your Mâconnais dry and without residual sugar. It has an absolutely divine bouquet that can barely contain its heady perfume of orange blossom, peppermint and wild fennel, just a smear of dried honey on top and maybe even a hint of truffle. This is so nuanced but, at the same time, very complex. The palate is well balanced with lemongrass and orange rind, marmalade surfacing midway through the experience. The acidity is very well judged and there is a very harmonious, almost Condrieu-like finish that has swagger and verve. What are you waiting for?...Grab some bottles.
About the producer
Domaine de la Bongran is no ordinary Mâconnais estate. Since Jean Thévenet took over the domaine in 1972, this Viré-Clessé producer has become a cult name – with Jean a pioneer of organics and minimal intervention, as well as the estate’s unique wine style.