Saint-Veran, Domaine de la Croix Senaillet 2023

A proper example of what Saint-Véran does best - crisp, fruity Chardonnay from the limestone-rich soils of the Mâconnais. Grown in 40 small parcels around Davayé, these vines, averaging 45 years old, give the wine a lovely complexity. It's mostly vinified in stainless steel, keeping things fresh and bright, but there's just a hint of oak in there, adding a subtle layer of vanilla. Expect aromas of citrus and stone fruits, with peach and nectarine flavours nicely balanced by a lively acidity and impressive minerality. The finish is long, clean, and rather moreish.

Seafood and white fish pair wonderfully with this, as the crisp acidity, subtle minerality, and light citrus notes enhance their delicate flavours and textures.

Based just outside the village of Davayé, brothers Richard and Stéphane Martin took over Domaine de la Croix Senaillet from their father in the early 1990s. What was a 6.5 hectare domaine has now grown to some 25 hectares, spread over 52 individual parcels - nearly all surrounding their modern winery in the commune of Davayé. Since 2006, they have been totally organic and are now certified as such. A hallmark of their wines is that they're gorgeously, crisp, fresh, pure, crystalline, minerally, concentrated and intensely flavoured, and are a true reflection of the high quality Chardonnay that can be produced from the Mâconnais.