Macon-Charnay-Les-Macon 'Les Piliers', Genetie 2024

Let's deconstruct the name first. Charnay-lès-Mâcon is a village near Mâcon, and it's from the vineyards around here that the Chardonnay grapes for the wine are grown. In other words, it's a Mâcon white from Charnay-lès-Mâcon - simple enough once you've worked it out. Now the wine - crisp and refreshing, it hits you with the zesty crunch of greengages before hints of candied peel and lemongrass sneak in on the finish. A little lees ageing adds a subtle richness, and a little polish. Well-made and seriously drinkable..

Great with a nice roast chicken or lemon-drenched prawns, its crisp freshness balances richness effortlessly. Then again, who needs food? This one's perfectly happy on its own.

Genetie is an intriguing venture in Burgundy's Mâconnais, led by Samantha Bailey, a winemaker who knows the ins and outs of this area's vineyards extremely well. Her aim is to create wines that capture the essence of southern Burgundy - a region often in the shadow of its more famous northern counterparts. These wines have a quiet elegance; they’re well-crafted and unpretentious, with a focus on flavour rather than fuss.