Maison Valette

History of Maison Valette

The history of Maison Valette is rooted in the continuity of three generations of winegrowers attached to the village of Chaintré, in the southern Mâconnais. Philippe's grandfather had already begun working the vines, but it was his father who marked the founding turning point of the estate by becoming the first farmer in the region to stop selling his grapes to the cooperative in order to create his own estate wine. This bold gesture, going against the grain of regional practices, laid the foundations for a singular family signature.

Having completed his oenology studies in 1990, Philippe Valette made a radical decision: to convert the estate to organic farming. The early years were tough, as his academic training was far removed from the realities of organic work. Through perseverance and observation, he gradually mastered each Chardonnay parcel and achieved spectacular results. Today, accompanied by his wife Cécile and sometimes his brother Baptiste, Philippe perpetuates this discreet philosophy, voluntarily refusing any official certification, judging that it is conventional practices that should provide transparency about their treatments, and not the other way around.

Terroirs and Vines of Maison Valette

The vineyard of Maison Valette extends over approximately 15 hectares cultivated exclusively in Chaintré and Vinzelles, on the border between the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais. The grape variety is unique: Chardonnay, planted on clay-limestone soils rich in white limestone, which endow the wines with their so characteristic mineral and saline signature. The estate covers four major appellations: Mâcon-Villages, Mâcon-Chaintré, Pouilly-Fuissé and Pouilly-Vinzelles, with sometimes tiny parcels dedicated to the most prestigious cuvées, such as the 35 ares of the Clos de Monsieur Noly.

The management of the vineyard is exemplary: organic farming for more than 20 years, biodynamics since 1992, regular soil scarifying, controlled cover cropping, manual pruning and permanent observation. The objective is to encourage deep development of the root system so that the vine draws its mineral identity from the bedrock. Yields are deliberately very low, and harvesting takes place only after perfect phenolic maturity, determined by tasting the berries on the vine. The grapes are picked by hand, in small 15-kilogram crates, to preserve the absolute integrity of the bunches.

Winemaking at Maison Valette

In the cellar, Philippe Valette practises a winemaking approach of exemplary gentleness and patience, a world away from modern viticulture. The grapes, harvested by hand, arrive in the winery without any prior mechanical intervention. They are placed in a pneumatic press, and the juices then flow directly by gravity into a tank, without the addition of sulphur or any other input. After a rough settling, the musts are placed in oak barrels (old, having held 3 to 5 different wines) together with the lees, in cool cellars.

Ageing takes place with indigenous yeasts, without racking, for a minimum of one year, after which the wine is racked and blended in bulk for additional ageing ranging from one year to twelve years depending on the cuvée. For the Clos de Monsieur Noly, for example, ageing regularly reaches 48 months or more. The finest cuvées thus undergo an exceptionally long stay on fine lees, sometimes 72 months, which endows them with an unrivalled density and aromatic complexity. Bottling takes place only when the wine is ready, without fining or filtration, yielding Chardonnays of absolute integrity and vibrancy.

The cuvées of Maison Valette

The Mâcon-Villages is the estate's entry-level cuvée, already of remarkable quality. Sourced from Chardonnay grown on clay-limestone soils and patiently aged, this wine offers a pure expression of the Mâconnais with notes of citrus, white flowers and a thirst-quenching saline finish. An ideal introduction to the Valette universe.

The Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes is a very rare cuvée sourced from the estate's oldest parcels. Organic, complex, marked by intense aromas of baked apples, gentle spices and honey, it develops on the palate a remarkable power, density and aromatic concentration, complemented by saline and mineral notes. A Mâcon-Chaintré that rivals great classic Pouilly-Fuissé.

The Pouilly-Fuissé from Maison Valette, often crafted as a blend of several vintages (2019-2020-2021, or 2020-2021-2022-2023 depending on the year), is a luminous and powerful Chardonnay, a world away from the oaky tendencies of the appellation. Hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts, without added sulphites, aged for 12 months on lees in used oak barrels then 18 months in stainless steel tanks. Nose of white flowers, hazelnut, sesame, honey, white-fleshed fruits and mineral notes, broad and silky palate, almost unctuous, structured by a superb acidity, a crescendo finish of directness and salivating minerality. One of the greatest signatures of the appellation.

The Pouilly-Fuissé Le Clos Reyssié is a prestigious cuvée from a confidential parcel, aged for several years in barrels. More taut, more mineral and denser than the classic Pouilly-Fuissé, it expresses the full chalky and deep signature of the climat with great purity.

The Pouilly-Fuissé Le Clos de Monsieur Noly is without doubt one of the greatest cuvées in the entire Mâconnais and the absolute emblem of the estate. Sourced from a tiny 35-are parcel, it undergoes an exceptionally long ageing of 48 months or more. This extraordinary Chardonnay combines power, complexity, density and minerality in a striking balance. Creamy, intensely expressive of white fruits, citrus and white flowers, supported by a lively acidity and a long, saline finish, it pairs ideally with seafood, lobster, poularde with morels or a platter of aged cheeses. A world-class reference.

The Pouilly-Vinzelles, a neighbouring parcel situated on the hillside of Vinzelles, completes the range with a taut and upright Chardonnay, marked by a slightly different, more vertical mineral signature, which speaks to the diversity of the terroirs worked by Philippe Valette. Extended ageing in old barrels, without added sulphur, yielding a white wine of great aromatic purity and a persistent saline finish.