Domaine de la Soufrandière - La Combe des Roches 2017

Vines on north-facing hillsides; 70% of the wine is fermented in tanks. It evokes a sea breeze—fresh, salty, and vibrant—with crisp white fruit on the finish. It embodies the winery’s signature style.

The Bret brothers, who are never short on ideas or ingenuity, have become a benchmark in the Mâconnais region thanks to their keen 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-trading arm, sourcing grapes to produce 15 micro-cuvées (ten of which are certified organic). The wines are consistently remarkable in their vitality, great purity, and unparalleled drinkability. One of the region’s standout estates—a name you can trust.

From a north-facing vineyard, the 2017 Saint-Véran La Combe Des Roches opens up in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp green apple, and white flowers. On the palate, it is dense, silky, and crisp, with lively acidity and a chalky, precise finish. This new vintage from La Soufrandière is a truly impressive offering.

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 pressed whole-cluster before fermentation in barrels, and the wines often complete their aging on lees in stainless-steel tanks to preserve their structure.

Bright gold in color, with an intense floral aroma and notes of honeysuckle. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, with minimal oak. A fresh overall profile that evokes the bitterness of grapefruit on the finish.

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 decision to adopt biodynamic farming was a natural choice. 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 meticulous 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.