Bret Brothers - Mâcon-Igé Climat Les Vernayes 2024

The Bret brothers have become a leading name in the Mâconnais region thanks to their commitment to biodynamics. Most of the work in the vineyard is done by hand, with the exception of plowing and treatments—which are carried out using a tractor or horse—thanks to the entire Bret Team. La Souffrandière is the family estate, which currently spans 11 hectares. Bret Brothers is the grape-purchasing arm of the business, producing micro-cuvées (including 8 certified organic). The wines always display remarkable vitality and require a bit of time to open up and reveal their full potential.

This wine merchant was founded in 2001 by the Bret brothers, who also own the Domaine de la Soufrandière. They offer a wide range of quality wines from the Mâconnais and Beaujolais regions. The grapes are purchased directly from the vineyard, harvested, and vinified by the estate’s team using indigenous yeasts, and the vast majority are aged in 11-year-old Burgundian barrels—a wise choice that allows the terroir and vintage character to shine through. Sixty percent of the wines from the 2018 vintage presented here are organic, a fact clearly indicated on the highly detailed labels. In total, nearly 17 micro-cuvées are released each year. The selection below includes only the most balanced wines; four wines failed to impress during our tasting. This inconsistency observed in recent years has led us to remove the star.