The 2002 Macon-Chaintre Vieilles Vignes has a smoky, stone-filled nose. Velvety-textured, fresh, and displaying apple as well as pear flavors, it is a light to medium-bodied wine. Projected maturity: now-2008. French wine lovers are well aware that 2002 was a particularly difficult vintage in the south of France due to incessant rains, culminating in massive deluges at harvest time, yet to the north, in the Cote d’Or, there were almost drought-like conditions for most of the growing season, with the exception of a rainy period in late August/early September. What appears to be little-known, however, is that the demarcation line between the dry north and the wet south bisected the Maconnais. As Gerard Valette noted, “To make good wines, we needed to do a severe sort at harvest because we had gotten our fair share of the rains of the south, and therefore needed to cope with some rot.”Importer: Kysela Pere et Fils, Fran Kysela, Winchester, VA; tel. (540) 722-9228

Despite rich aromas of honey and oak, this wine is clean and crisp, with bright pear and citrus flavors and mouthwatering acids. Finishes long and lemony; the perfect foil to fish or poultry. Imported by Kysela Pere et Fils. ——J.C.(11/15/2005)—— 88