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Guillemot-Michel Vire Clesse Quintaine
Domaine Guillemot-Michel
France - Burgundy - Vire Clesse

Beautifully expressive, with yellow fruits, orange blossom, smoke & flint. Thick and saline on entry, then seriously deep in the mid-palate, with suggestions of exotic fruits perfectly countered by strong minerality. This wine strikes a perfect balance between sweet and salty elements, and it shows vibrant acidity. It boasts a thickness that few other northern Mâconnais can match.

Specifications
Appellation
Vire Clesse
Wine Type
White
Varietal(s)
100% Chardonnay
Age of vines
50-55 years
Agricultural Practices
Biodynamic
Certifications
Biodyvin
Soil type
Clay & Limestone
Vinification
Small yield; 2.5 tons per acre. Hand harvested. Pressing is done very slowly (around 4 hours). Settling overnight. 100% malolactic fermentation. Aged on the fine lees for almost 1 year (no oak) without batonnage.
Production
3,300 (9-liter cases)
Pairings

Enjoy with fish (such as sole meuniere), seafood, roasted chicken, goat cheese.

Reviews and News

2021 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 92 PTS - DECANTER

2021 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 92 PTS - DECANTER

decanter logo 250"This unoaked white Burgundy is produced by a small biodynamic estate, fermented in tile-lined vats, kept on its lees until the summer and then bottled. Glinting with gold hints in the glass, it's fairly rich in style, but with the freshness of the 2021 vintage, dripping with lemon curd citrus zestiness and a touch of leesiness. A real pleasure to drink."

- Decanter (September 2023), 92 pts

2020 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93 PTS - WA

2020 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93 PTS - WA

wa93"Another terrific wine from this address, the 2020 Viré-Clessé Quintaine exhibits aromas of citrus zest, white flowers, crisp melon and orchard fruit, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered palate that's racy and precise, concluding with a long, saline finish. At a pH of 3.09, this is a beautifully balanced, vibrant wine in this warm vintage, and it will richly reward some bottle age. – William Kelley"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (September 2022), 93 pts

2019 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93+ PTS - WA

2019 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93+ PTS - WA

wa93"Notes of crisp green orchard fruit, oatmeal, clear honey, white flowers and mint introduce the 2019 Viré-Clessé Quintaine, a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated wine that's deep and sapid, framed by lively acids and chalky structuring dry extract. If the 2018 is open and demonstrative, the 2019 is built to age and will really reward some patience. – William Kelley"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (August 2021), 93+ pts

2018 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93 PTS - WA June 2020

2018 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93 PTS - WA June 2020

wa93"The 2018 Viré-Clessé Quintaine is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with a lovely bouquet of honeyed citrus fruit, fresh pastry and orange blossom. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and supple, it's elegantly textural and refined, with a fragrant core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish. Even though it will reward a bit of bottle age, it's slightly finer-boned than the more concentrated, muscular 2017, so I would opt to drink this immensely charming wine before its older sibling. – William Kelley"

- The Wine Advocate (Issue 249, June 30th 2020), 93 pts

2018 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93 PTS - WA August 2021

2018 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93 PTS - WA August 2021

wa93"The 2018 Viré-Clessé Quintaine continues to show very well, bursting with aromas of crisp green apple, honeycomb, orange oil, fresh bread and elderflowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and succulent, it's bright and precise, with a charming core of fruit and a saline finish. – William Kelley"

- The Wine Advocate (August 2021), 93 pts

2018 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 90 PTS - WE

2018 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 90 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 90 pts

 "A chalky hint of rounded lemon is shy on the nose of this wine. However, the palate is awake with juicy yellow apple and rich melon edged with ripe lemon freshness. The texture is smooth and the body mellow. Bright fruit highlights the chalky finish. - ANNE KREBIEHL MW"

 - Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 90 pts

2017 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93+ PTS - WA

2017 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 93+ PTS - WA

wa93"The 2017 Viré-Clessé Quintaine is showing beautifully, unfurling in the glass with a refined bouquet of white peach, green orchard fruit, honeycomb and spring flowers. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and lively, with lively acids, promising structuring dry extract and a long, delicately honeyed finish. From vines that have been biodynamically farmed since 1991, this cuvée always attains a pH of 3.2 or lower, even in the warmest vintage. While it is always approachable, to my palate, this bottling is at its best with six to eight years of bottle age. – William Kelley"

- The Wine Advocate (Issue 244, August 31st 2019), 93+ pts

2017 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 90 PTS - WE

2017 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine - 90 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 90 pts"The nose on this wine conveys a mellow and fresh cloud of Golden Pearmain apple. Mellowness carries through on the palate, with a smooth core of yellow-apple freshness. An edge of peppery spice adds interest but smoothness and freshness are the chief charms of this wine. - ANNE KREBIEHL MW"

- Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 90 pts

2017 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 92 PTS - Decanter

2017 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 92 PTS - Decanter

decanter logo 250"Gautier Roussille is among the leading young talents in the Mâconnais. This cement-fermented and aged Chardonnay is a blend from 6.2ha. It's fresh and perfumed, with lime blossom notes that are almost reminiscent of a Clare Valley Riesling. It also shows tangy acidity and impressive palate length. Great value too. Drinking Window 2019 - 2023. - Tim Atkin MW"

- Decanter Magazine (November 1st 2018), 92 pts

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2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 93 PTS - WA

2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 93 PTS - WA

wa93"Notes of Acacia honey, musky peach, beeswax, fresh apricot and dried white flowers introduce the 2016 Viré-Clessé, a silky, medium to full-bodied wine with exceptional concentration, textural elegance and length on the finish. Despite its ripeness and subtly botrytis-inflected character, it's underpinned by tangy acids and remains beautifully balanced and integrated. This is well worth seeking out. – William Kelley"

- The Wine Advocate (August 31st 2018), 93 pts

2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 93 PTS - Tim Atkin

2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 93 PTS - Tim Atkin

tim atkin logo 250". - Tim Atkin"

- Tim Atkin MW (April 2018), 93 pts

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2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 92 PTS - VINOUS

2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 92 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"Medium yellow. Yellow fruits, orange blossom, smoke and flint on the nose and palate. Thick and saline on entry, then seriously deep in the mid-palate, with suggestions of exotic fruits perfectly countered by strong saline minerality. I love the balance of sweet and salty elements and vibrant acidity. The slowly rising finish is very long and smooth. This wine, made from vineyards that have been Demeter-certified for more than two decades, boasts a thickness that few 2016s from the northern Mâconnais can match. I'd love to follow this unctuous yet energetic Viré-Clessé as it loses some of its baby fat but it's approachable already owing to its texture and balance. - Stephen Tanzer"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2017), 92 pts

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2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 17/20 - JR

2016 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 17/20 - JR

jancis robinson logo"Bright greenish gold. Rich but tense nose with great opulence. Reminiscent of the Thevenet wines. Lots of layers going from golden syrup through honeysuckle to blossom yet with raciness. Maybe not for the very long term but this over-delivers in terms of pleasure. Long. Good value."

- Jancis Robinson (November 9th 2018), 17/20

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2015 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 90 PTS - VINOUS

2015 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 90 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Full straw-yellow. Very ripe stone fruits, white plum and pear on the nose. Thick, rich and lightly saline; quite full and horizontal in the mouth, offering a chewy texture. Decent lemony acidity and mineral support keep the fruit surprisingly fresh. A powerful wine in the style of the vintage but not dry or hot, finishing with very good lemony grip and length. This is sweeter, richer and fatter than Guillemot-Michel's 2014 bottling but it wears its alcohol gracefully, and the resounding lemony finish is hardly short on acidity. - Stephen Tanzer"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2016), 90 pts

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2014 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 90 PTS - VINOUS

2014 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 90 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Pale, bright yellow. Brisk, slightly metallic aromas of lemon, lime, licorice and wild herbs. Then fat, sweet and large-scaled in the mouth, but without any obvious signs of surmaturité. The very rich, full yellow peach and ripe citrus flavors convey a strong impression of saline extract. Very concentrated if slightly aggressive today, even a bit rustic in its texture, but with excellent material. Judging from this wine, Marc Guillemot-Michel is now picking his fruit at less extreme ripeness. - Stephen Tanzer"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (The Mâconnais on the Move, December 2015), 90 pts

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2013 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 88 PTS - WE

2013 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 88 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 88 pts"This wine offers ripe yellow fruits and soft acidity. A honeyed character adds to the richness and generous character of this warm wine that is lightly cut by acidity at the end. - Roger Voss."

- Wine Enthusiast (October 1st 2015), 88 pts

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2013 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 87 PTS - VINOUS

2013 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 87 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Obviously noble rot-ennobled aromas of pineapple, honey and licorice could use a bit more verve. Round and slightly diffuse on the palate; this will go earthy and truffley with a couple more years of bottle age. Finishes a bit rough and generic. Not my style. - Stephen Tanzer"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (The Mâconnais on the Move, December 2015), 87 pts

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2010 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 87 PTS - WS

2010 Guillemot Michel Viré-Clessé - 87 PTS - WS

"wine spectator 87 ptsQuince paste and pear aromas and flavors mark this expressive white. On the soft side, with lingering spice notes. Drink now. 2,800 cases made. –BS"

- Wine Spectator (Web Only 2013), 87 pts

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Producer Information: Domaine Guillemot-Michel

This 7-hectare estate is located in the commune of Quintaine, adjacent to the village of Clessé, South of Burgundy. Quintaine is recognized as producing some of the finest wines of ...
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