Jean Manciat Macon-Charnay Franclieu 2023 NET Whole-cluster pressed

Whole-cluster pressed

Cabernet Franc

Smith Haut Lafitte is a Pessac-Léognan classified-growth estate

just north of Chicago

buttered toast

Jean Manciat Macon-Charnay Franclieu 2023 NET Whole-cluster pressedJean Manciat farms a handful of hectares in Charnay, just outside Macon, and the Franclieu cuvee is the gem of the lineup a single lieu dit drawn from his oldest vines on a clay limestone slope. It's fermented with native yeasts and raised entirely in stainless steel, so what you get is pure, unvarnished Chardonnay: chalk, orchard fruit, white flowers. 2023 came in a touch lower in alcohol than the regular bottling, which only sharpens the focus. This