2024 Maurice Lapalus & Fils Mâcon-Pierreclos Chardonnay

In the glass, its nose is clean and expressive, offering notes of green apple, pear, and lemon zest, alongside a light floral character and a hint of wet stone / undertones of crushed minerals. On the palate, the wine is medium-light in body with a steady line of acidity that keeps everything lip-smacking fresh. Flavors of citrus and orchard fruit are supported by a subtle creamy texture, likely from lees contact. While this wine carries phenolic texture, there’s no note that declares overt (new) oak influence on the wine. The finish is dry and focused, with a mineralty that reflects the limestone soils and the style of this wine, which leans toward freshness and clarity.

Maurice Lapalus & Fils is a small négociant-producer based in the Mâconnais in southern Burgundy, working closely with growers across the region to source fruit from specific vineyard parcels. The Lapalus family has longstanding roots in southern Burgundy, and the current generation has focused on producing wines that are straightforward, site-reflective, and accessible. Rather than relying on heavy cellar techniques, the approach is largely hands-off: clean fermentations, limited extraction, and minimal oak influence. This allows both grape variety and origin to remain clearly defined. While Chardonnay dominates production in the Mâconnais, the domaine’s work with Gamay reflects the historical diversity of plantings in the southern part of Burgundy, where red varieties have long played a supporting role.