PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Viré-Clessé is one of the best white wine appellations of the Mâconnais, in the south of Burgundy, in the hills between the Saône Valley and Pouilly-Fuissé, a place of south-east-facing slopes where two villages together make one of the region’s most expressive Chardonnays. In Viré, the soil is chalky with large layers of clay. In Clessé, the structure is slightly different: chalk and clay mixed with liassic marls and oyster fossils, which give the wine an underlying minerality. The appellation also permits Chardonnay Muscaté, a local aromatic variant, and Chanson’s Viré-Clessé is made from a blend of the two.
Domaine Chanson, founded in Beaune in 1750, treats the wine with restraint: “the wine is, for the most part, left alone, as the philosophy is one of ‘infusion rather than construction,’” and the grapes are chilled to preserve fresh fruit characteristics. The 2022 harvest began on August 20, and the vintage gave generous, rounded, smooth Chardonnays. The wine is 13% ABV.
The domaine’s tasting note: “Pale gold colour. Delicate floral fragrances mixed with citrus fruit on a hint of minerality. Taut, precise and tense. Very pure fruit combination. Refreshing salty finish.” Wine Enthusiast scored it 91: “Fragrant, bready aromas are enlivened by peach skin and yogurt on the nose along with muddled red apple and pear tart. Round in texture, relaxed flavors of orchard fruit stroll without rush to the finish that crescendos in concentration.” Vinous’s Neal Martin (August 2023) reviewed it: “The 2022 Viré-Clessé has an intense and well-defined bouquet: yellow fruit, melted wax and slithers of sliced peach. The palate is well-defined with a lovely, resinous texture. Balanced and poised, there are touches of stem ginger towards the harmonious and persistent finish — an excellent Viré-Clessé.” Wine-Searcher’s critic average for the wine is 87 across 60 reviews, and the community rates the Chanson Viré-Clessé at 8.8 out of 10 across 185 ratings, with one taster calling it a “nice value Chardonnay from the Mâconnais.”
It’s a fresh, mineral, easy-to-pair white Burgundy at a Mâconnais price, a step up from basic Mâcon-Villages, and a bottle for weeknight dinners and aperitifs. Serve it lightly chilled, at 10-12°C, with light seafood, shellfish, roast chicken, goat cheese, and raw vegetable starters.
Chanson Père & Fils 2022 Viré-Clessé is produced by Domaine Chanson in Beaune, Burgundy, France (founded 1750), from Chardonnay and Chardonnay Muscaté grown in the Viré-Clessé appellation, Mâconnais (south-east-facing slopes; chalk and clay, liassic marls, oyster fossils). Light-touch winemaking (“infusion rather than construction”). 13% ABV, 750ml.
Wine Enthusiast — 91 Points:
“Fragrant, bready aromas are enlivened by peach skin and yogurt on the nose along with muddled red apple and pear tart. Round in texture, relaxed flavors of orchard fruit stroll without rush to the finish that crescendos in concentration.”
Neal Martin, Vinous (August 2023; score not shown):
“The 2022 Viré-Clessé has an intense and well-defined bouquet: yellow fruit, melted wax and slithers of sliced peach. The palate is well-defined with a lovely, resinous texture. Balanced and poised, there are touches of stem ginger towards the harmonious and persistent finish — an excellent Viré-Clessé.”
Wine-Searcher aggregate: 87/100 across 60 critic reviews
Domaine Chanson (tasting note):
“Pale gold colour. Delicate floral fragrances mixed with citrus fruit on a hint of minerality. Taut, precise and tense. Very pure fruit combination. Refreshing salty finish.”
Nose
Pale gold. Delicate floral fragrances, citrus, peach skin, and yellow fruit, with red apple, pear tart, and melted wax.
Palate
Taut, precise, and round, with peach, pear, orchard fruit, stem ginger, and a resinous texture.
Finish
Fresh and persistent, with a salty, mineral edge.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Viré-Clessé AOC, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France |
| Grapes | Chardonnay and Chardonnay Muscaté |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Producer | Domaine Chanson (Beaune, founded 1750) |
| Terroir | South-east-facing slopes; chalk, clay, liassic marls, oyster fossils |
| ABV | 13% |
| Critics | Wine Enthusiast 91 · Vinous reviewed · Wine-Searcher average 87 (all vintages) |
| Serving Temperature | 10–12°C |
| Style / Identity | A taut, mineral, fresh, great-value Mâconnais Chardonnay |
| Aromas & Flavors | Peach, yellow fruit, red apple, pear tart, citrus, stem ginger, mineral |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Serve lightly chilled, at about 10-12°C.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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