2014 Domaine Sophie Cinier 'A la Cote'-Veran Saint

The Mâconnais, Burgundy's southernmost region, is the gateway to the enchanting land of the world's finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Just last year one of the Mâconnais most prestigious sub-regions, Pouilly-Fuisse, had 22 individual vineyards receive official recognition as 1er cru or 'first-class' terroirs. But over the years, the vineyards have largely remained the same as this region continues to get overlooked for Bugundy's more premier appellations. In 2000, a wine aficionado, Sophie Cinier, with almost no winemaking experience took over her Grandmother's Mâconnais vineyards. Her grandparents had been involved in wine production since their vines were first planted in 1941. Since she took over, Sophie has become a White Burgundy wizard crafting some of the most impressive whites from this unheralded southern part of Burgundy.

There is a stunning range of different styles from her minuscule Domaine. Sophie maintains 9 1/2 acres of vineyards, a small amount even by Burgundy standards. Unlike large parts of the Mâconnais where machine harvesting is the norm, Sophie’s vineyards are entirely hand-harvested. Sophie is currently transitioning the vineyards to be fully organic. In a world where quality white burgundy seems so out of reach, Sophie Cinier, with her cape blowing in the wind, brings hope that you can find quality white burgundy at an affordable price. 

Cinier's wines are unoaked, barrel-fermented, with little to no oak aging. There are no lees stirring, and with a touch of the fashionable reductive aromas so much in vogue. Her wines are rich with great purity and tension. Sophie creates one of the finest expressions of Chardonnay from the Mâconnais, ripe, full-flavored wines with exciting and bracing acidity.