2018 Domaine de Rochebin Clos Saint-Germain Chardonnay Bourgogne 750 ml

Finding affordable white Burgundy in the Mâcon is easy. But finding a value Chardonnay from the Mâcon that delivers the precision and balance we demand out of bottles from the Côte d’Or? That’s hard—which is why we move mountains to get an allocation when a wine like Domaine de Rochebin’s Clos Saint-Germain comes on our radar.

With beautiful fruit, an elegant texture, and a buzzy vibrancy, it’s a prime example of why we love the region and its Chardonnays—and why we fought to get the US exclusive on the 2018.

We tried the bottle on a quick stop for lunch after visiting the legendary Abbey of Cluny—where monks a millennium ago began shaping what we now know as the Burgundian wine industry—which happens to be a stone’s throw away from Rochebin’s hometown of Azé. Grabbed from a local shop to go with some jambon persillé, the mouthwatering Chardonnay grabbed our attention and would not let go.

Domaine de Rochebin has grown grapes on its land since 1921. Today, Mickaël Marillier and his father Jean-Pierre, the father-and-son team at the estate, have built an enthusiastic following in France.  

Mickaël oversees the prized clay-limestone vineyards, farming according to the principles of lutte raisonnée—a philosophy that eschews chemicals in favor of a sustainable system of pest management. Once the grapes are harvested, temperature-controlled fermentation ensures a bright-fruit character, and a year of barrel aging builds a complexity and texture that complement the wine’s vibrant acidity.

The result is a stellar value—and a wine that makes us want to stock up on it by the case. Lovers of white Burgundy or crisp American Chardonnay should as well.