Marcel Couturier

Domaine Couturier has rapidly become a reference in the Mâconnais. Established in 2005 in the commune of Fuissé this small 11 ha estate is relatively new yet has already acquired beautiful vineyard holdings of the main appellations of Macon, Loché, Saint-Véran and Fuissé in less than 20 years. Marcel is now assisted by his son Auxence and daughter Cladie who takes responsibility for winemaking since 2017 and Auxence who works the vines with his father has moved the estate to organic and now bio-dynamic farming being certified in 2021 and 2022 respectively. With more hands to undertake work in the vines and improved viticulture the results are clear to see in each of the wines with exceptional purity and precision in each.

Here each vineyard and soil type are vinified separately with natural yeast and vinifications are quite similar for all wines allowing the terroir of each plot to express itself with greatest clarity. All wines are whole bunch pressed with no SO2 added at the press and both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations occur naturally in traditional Burgundy barrels with ageing on fine lees with no battonage and just one racking prior to bottling. There is a lightness of touch to all the wines with no SO2 during elevage and small safe amounts used at bottling (mostly around 11 months of ageing up to 15 months for the top wines) giving wines which offer incredible delicacy and energy with aromatic purity and complexity as a result.

There is notable diversity of soil types in this area with soils not only of limestone and clay but also sandstone and schist in places due to the fault lines causing these hills and mountains to rise up millions of years ago. With 13 different cuvees produced we have selected 3 wines to begin which we feel best represent the work of the family.

Dry whites

2022 Macon-Loché Les Longues Terres
From vines around 30 years old in clay limestone and marl soil located in the village of Loché. Aged for 11 months on fine lees without SO2 and bottled with a small but safe amount of SO2 giving the wine great purity and terroir definition. This great wine is perfectly balanced between richness and freshness. Intense aromas of acacia, honeysuckle, vanilla, and hints of toast appear on the nose. Its orchard fruit flavours deliver finesse elegance and length on the palate. Pure fine generous and long yet finishing dry and fresh.

‘Well-ripened, tasty with notes of pear. A very indulgent, fresh and juicy wine, served with very precise aging, and which will soon be enjoyed.’ 91 points, La Revue du Vin de France, July 2024.

2022 Macon-Fuissé
From one small parcel comprising just 3 barrels comes this incredibly fine Macon which shows excellent dimension filling the mouth with crystaline dry flavours. Incredible clarity persistence and length on the palate. Very precise and impressive.

‘Notes of nougat and honey, rich and full of flavor, beautiful density of flesh and full-bodied persistence: excellent energetic and ample white, quite vibrant on the finish, full of vitality.’ 92 points, La Revue du Vin de France, July 2024.

2023 Pouilly-Fuissé Clos Scelles
While most of the estates wines are bottled after 11 months ageing on fine lees, this is bottled after 15 months ageing on fine lees due to its intensity and strength of character. This Pouilly-Fuissé is a blend of two vineyards: Pouilly-Fuissé "Clos Reyssié" has vines more than 80 years old in Chaintre on silty, clay and limestone dominated soils, and Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Scellés" coming from vines more than 50 years old in Fuisse with schist, planted on the hillside facing east and clayey. "Clos Scellés" has a golden yellow color . On the nose there are precise, complex aromas of white flowers, yellow fruits, candied lemons. On the palate, it is generous, rich, with a crisp, "sweet" fruitiness, lots of finesse and a beautiful mineral finish.