DOMAINE THEVENARD
Uchizy, France
The Thevenard family has been on the same land in the Mâconnais since 1918, when Claudius Lafarge returned from World War I, settling in Uchizy and planting Chardonnay plots that are still in production today. The Thevenards farmed and bottled their own wines until 1967, when a tragic accident forced the family to abandon the winemaking and join the local cooperative. However, through the years their vineyard holdings remained intact, and in 2020, fifth generations brothers Matthieu and Gaétan convinced their father to withdraw 12 hectares from the local cooperative and begin estate bottling again.
For his part, Matthieu began his journey by honing his craft at the side of Jean-Marie Guffens, the very vigneron who brought the world's attention to the Mâcon as a region capable of producing Chardonnays to match the greatest on the planet. He then spent eight years at Maison Alex Gambal. He has now brought those lessons to bear on the land his family has worked for over a century.
The vines selected by Matthieu and Gaétan for estate wine production are those ideally situated, of course: east-facing slopes, 30-40 years old in most cases, at an average of 250m of altitude. The approach in the vineyard rings familiar – the kind of pragmatic philosophy that prioritizes quality over dogma but recognizes where respect for the land is most paramount in achieving excellence. The winery is HVE level 3 certified sustainable, and most of the vineyard work is carried out organically. No herbicide is used whatsoever, and the vast majority of treatments used are certified organic.
In the winery, minimal intervention is the guiding principle. They borrow tenets of biodynamic winemaking, particularly adherence to the lunar cycle, to impart purity and freshness. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks. Bentonite clay is used to fining - removing yeast and particulate matter fully and naturally. Blending old traditions with modern technology, they use thermoregulated tanks and a nitrogen blanketing system to protect wines from oxidation. This allows them to gravity feed their barrels as well, scarcely handling the liquid. All ageing is done in barrel, a maximum of 15% new, and no sulfites are used during maturation.
The results speak for themselves: supple, focused, energetic bottlings of Chardonnay with profound tension and intensity. Each wine expresses dramatic distinctions from the last - a testament to their ability to harness terroir, especially given the approach to winemaking remains consistent regardless of bottling.
Wines
Domaine Thevenard Mâcon-Villages
Domaine Thevenard Mâcon-Lugny 'Genièvres'
Domaine Thevenard Crémant de Bourgogne Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs