The 2023 Roc Breïa Chardonnay is a beautifully pure and intensely mineral Chardonnay from the ambitious Mâconnais project of Théo Dancer, son of the celebrated Vincent Dancer. Produced from organically farmed old vines in the cool, windswept village of Bray in the northern Mâconnais, the wine reflects a meticulous low-intervention philosophy focused on regenerative farming, freshness and terroir transparency. The Chardonnay vines, some planted in the mid-1940s and 1970s, are rooted in limestone-rich soils and farmed with cover crops and manual cultivation to restore balance and vitality to the vineyard.
The nose reveals preserved lemon, nectarine and ripe pear layered alongside white flowers, wet stone and subtle smoky mineral notes, giving the wine remarkable lift and aromatic clarity. On the palate, it is light to medium-bodied with vibrant natural acidity, silky texture and a tightly focused mineral core. Whole-bunch pressing and fermentation in used 500-litre barrels preserve both crystalline freshness and subtle textural depth, while bottling with minimal sulphur and no filtration enhances the wine’s purity and energetic character. The finish is long, chalky and beautifully persistent, balancing citrus-driven precision with understated richness and finesse. Critics and importers have highlighted the wine’s “pure and linear” style and its unusually fresh, racy character for the Mâconnais.
Ben’s Recommendation:
The 2023 Roc Breïa Chardonnay is a superb modern Burgundy Chardonnay — mineral, vibrant and beautifully refined with outstanding tension and transparency. Perfect with scallops, roast chicken, creamy risotto, grilled lobster or refined seafood dishes. Enjoy now with decanting or cellar comfortably through 2038+.
