Domaine de la Soufrandière - Au Vignerais 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The Bret brothers, who are never short on ideas or ingenuity, have become a benchmark in the Mâconnais region thanks to their deep mastery of biodynamics. Most vineyard work is done by hand, with the exception of plowing and treatments (which are done by tractor or horse), and their vineyards have become a testing ground for INRA researchers. La Soufrandière is the family’s 11-hectare estate, now Demeter-certified. Bret Brothers is the wine merchant operation, purchasing grapes to produce 15 micro-cuvées (ten of which are certified organic). The wines are always remarkably vibrant, exceptionally pure, and exceptionally easy to drink. One of the region’s standout estates—a name you can trust.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2018 Pouilly-Fuissé Au Vignerais also performs well, unfolding in the glass with aromas of citrus zest, pear, and fresh peach. Dense, silky, and enveloping, it is elegant and precise, while remaining beautifully balanced. This south-facing vineyard was harvested on August 29.

About the estate:

Domaine La Soufrandière is the family estate of the dynamic brothers Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume Bret (for reviews of their wine merchant venture, see Bret Brothers), where they produce beautifully silky, pure, flavorful, and expressive wines. Grown organically and harvested by hand, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed before fermentation in barrels, with the wines frequently finishing their aging on lees in stainless steel tanks to preserve their tension.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Harvested from the southern slopes of Solutré, Au Vignerais fills our glasses with notes of apricot. It is a ripe Chardonnay, balanced by a subtle, tangy finish.

About the estate:

Acquired by Jules Bret in 1947, the La Soufrandière estate marked the beginning of the Bret brothers’—Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume—career in Vinzelles, starting with the 2000 vintage. From that point on, the choice to adopt biodynamics became a natural one. They received Demeter certification in 2006 and have continued to experiment both in the vineyard and in the cellar to bring out the best in their terroirs with infinite care. Wines with little or no sulfur are marked with the word “Zen” on the label. Alongside the estate, a bespoke wine merchant business was established in 2001, Bret Brothers, which is, of course, featured in our guide.

Burghound