Today there is more focus on the fruit in the wines, says Damien Martin. There is also a better tension, with a nice minerality. The place is Davayé, in the heart of the Mâconnais. This is white wine country, not far from the iconic sites of the Rock of Solutré and the Rock of Vergisson.
Since Damien Martin arrived at the family domaine in 2010 Domaine de la Denante has doubled both in terms of surface area and number of cuvées. Yields have been reduced and focus is now on lieux-dits rather than large cuvées.

The white Macon-Davayé comes from a single parcel just 150 metres from the winery. The vines are young, planted in 2008, and the soil is deep, mainly clay.
“It’s an easy drinking wine with lots of fruit, says Damien Martin. It’s round, very typical chardonnay. It even has a bit of fat and richness. The vinification is quite different for the different cuvées. The Macon-Davayé is 100 per cent stainless steel. I leave a lot of sediment, because I want to preserve the fruit.”
Tasting Notes
This juicy wine with peach and pineapple flavors is fresh, crisply textured and tangy. Lemon fruits at the end give the wine a great lift.