As we reach the end of January, I find myself really looking forward to and dreaming of spring. It’s inevitable with the passing of the holidays, and I’m sure most people like myself are ready to say goodbye to winter and welcome to the next season. With that always comes the shift from drinking big, heavy reds to nice, crisp white wines. White Burgundy is definitely my top pick, but it’s always a challenge to find one that drinks like a Puligny Montrachet and priced like a Pouilly Fuisse.
One of the benefits of working for a wine retailer is that I get to see first hand our ever-changing inventory. One that recently caught my eye was the 2011 Verget Macon Vergisson La Roche. Verget has holdings throughout Burgundy, but this one comes from the Macconias or Macon region. If you want to get technical, Vergisson is actually a Pouilly Fuisse village, but these vines lie just outside of the commune, so it’s designated a Macon. These wines can offer great value and are generally priced much less than Puligny Montrachets or Chassagne Montrachets. A lot of times though you do get what you pay for, and it can be challenging to find an exceptional wine from this region.
Verget was founded in 1990 by Jean Marie Guffens after being a wine broker for five years. His philosophy can be summed up by stating “the best wine is made using the best grapes”. It’s a simple philosophy, but one that he has stuck to since creating Verget. His wines are known for their minerality, and also for how they highlight the terroir. He uses only hand-picked grapes and does minimal processing along with barrel fermentation to bring out each region’s best attributes.
I had a dinner party this past weekend, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to check this wine out. I was hoping that it’d be the perfect white wine to serve at my upcoming wedding in August, and also my go-to white Burg for the season. Let’s just say that I’ve found both! This wine definitely drinks well above its $20 price tag and could easily pass for a Puligny Montrachet. Most of these wines from this region and price range are usually lacking in weight and also are usually flat in the mid-palate. The 2011 Verget Macon Vergisson La Roche had plenty of acidity, nice minerality and overall was very vibrant. Let’s just call it spring in a glass! I highly recommend checking it out, and if you’re like me, this will definitely have you ready for warmer weather.