2020 Domaine Thibert, Saint-Veran, Champ Rond

Christophe Thibert and his daughter, Camille are full of boundless energy, and their extraordinary Mâconnais wines reflect their “joie de vivre” personalities, their extreme attention to detail, and their strong desire to showcase the quality of their incredible terroirs. They set the Mâconnais gold standard in Burgundy’s southernmost region, bordering Beaujolais. Christophe and Camille are incredibly focused on producing age-worthy, world-class Chardonnay. Christophe spares no expense to protect the integrity of his wines. For example, he uses costly, nearly 3-inch, natural corks. He insists these premium corks make a significant difference in how his wines evolve, and, perhaps even more importantly, they drastically reduce the risk of a bottle being corked. He even has these special corks shipped individually to prevent cross-contamination, highlighting the extraordinary care he takes to deliver a perfect bottle of his year's hard work. Their vineyards are about to be certified organic and have been practicing for some time. Camille planted cover crops in the rows and trees nearby to provide competition for their old vines and is keen to elevate the farming even further with a number of test plots and experiments underway. Their vineyards and production areas were impeccably maintained, and the wines reflect this precision and focus on quality. Their quality absolutely rivals the very best from the Côte de Beaune, and while they offer insane value, what’s most impressive is how clearly they articulate their special Mâconnais terroirs.

Champ Rond sits at the summit of a small hill in St Veran. The 50-year-old vineyard is out in the open and well-ventilated to help prevent humidity-related diseases and is one of the best sites in St. Veran. This 2020 wine shows another dimension of Thibert’s portfolio while still maintaining impeccable balance and harmony. This is ready to drink today but I would still give it a nice decant to allow it to open properly. The Thiberts suggest ageing Champ Rond for 5 to 6 years before consumption, so this wine is just entering its ideal drinking window.