Mâcon-Bussières

The vineyards of Bourgogne produce some great wines with a historical and international reputation. However, the region is not simply limited to its iconic appellations. In addition to its Village Premier Cru and Grand Cru AOCs, it also produces a range of wonderful Régionale and Village appellations to explore.


You will also find a full list of the Bourgogne’s Climats and lieux-dits on this page.


Check out the complete list of the 84 Bourgogne appellations.

However, your exploration has only just begun. Bourgogne wines have never before offered such high quality. Besides our range of internationally celebrated wines, try some of our lesser-known appellations where there are lots of surprises in store.

And for a fun way to find out more about the wines on offer, try out our “Which Bourgogne wine is right for me?” quiz, or check out Bourgogne Maps to take an interactive tour of the region.

  • Category

    Regional Appellation

  • Wine-producing region

    VIGNOBLE DU MÂCONNAIS

  • Creation of the appellation

    31 juillet 1937

  • Colour

    White: Chardonnay
    Red and rosé: Gamay

     

  • Area under vine:
    White: 28 hectares
    Red: 6 hectares
    Rosé: 0.2 hectares

    Note: Average over three years 2016-2018

     

  • An additional geographical denomination that is part of the Régionale Mâcon appellation in the Mâconnais. According to the 2005 specifications rules, the name Mâcon-Bussières refers to white, red, and rosé wines grown within a defined area in the village of Bussières.

Wine Characteristics - Mâcon-Bussières

Wine
Characteristics

Light yellow with hints of greeny gold, Mâcon-Bussières whites seduce from the first whiff, thanks to an elegant profile recalling spring flowers like acacia or wild white rose, and the juice of autumn fruit like pear. More complex aromas evoking spices like aniseed are gradually revealed with a little patience. They are vigorous and lively on the attack, underscoring this sophisticated feel, procuring a fairly long and indulgent finish.


The little-known red Mâcon-Bussières is produced from the Gamay grape which flourishes in this village’s warm spots on siliceous soils that are perfect for encouraging it to express itself. A lovely garnet color with deep hints of violet is typical of the varietal. On the nose, fruity fragrances recall preserved fruits like gooseberry and crushed raspberries. They are smooth in the mouth with melting tannins and lightly spiced notes of cinnamon.

Wine Steward’s Tip - Mâcon-Bussières

Wine
Steward’s Tip

White: For a perfect flavor combination given the liveliness of this wine on the tongue, opt for an appetizer like a creamy leek tart or risotto verrine. Then allow its acidulated structure to cut through the parsley butter of razor fish à la plancha, gratinated oysters, or snails.
Serving temperatures: 10-11°C as an aperitif, 11-12°C with food


Red: With its aromatic opulence and fleshy mouth, this wine is a remarkable companion with more fibrous meat dishes such as duck ravioli or braised côte de bœuf. For wine-marinated dishes, choose a hot year such as 2018, which will help soften the acidity of the sauce in a bœuf bourguignon or a snail meurette. To finish a meal, try a local washed-rind cow’s milk cheese that’s not too old, or something drier like a Palet de Bourgogne or a Cendré de Vergy, to match the freshness of the Gamay.
Serving temperature: 14-15°C

Situation - Mâcon-Bussières

Situation

Carved out by the course of the Petite Grosne river to the south and that of its tributary, the Fil, to the north, the heart of the terroir of Bussières is the first notable hill of the southern Mâconnais. To the west, this vine-growing area meets the first plots of Mâcon-Pierreclos and Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine, while beyond the Petite Grosne are the first slopes of Vergisson, classified as Pouilly-Fuissé.


“It is on the Earth an arid mountain, which carries on its flanks neither woods nor clear streams,” [...] “And is covered everywhere with rocks ready to fall,” [...] “This debris as it fell formed, from age to age, a hillside that grows smaller and, from layer to layer, bears, sheltered from the walls,” [...] “some vines whose branches, seeking the maple in vain, meander on the Earth or crawl on the sand.” This is how the poet Alphonse Lamartine viewed the harshness of Monsard from the higher land of Milly in his poem entitled “Milly or my Homeland,” which was published in 1830. More than an inspiring landscape, the steep slopes of Bussières with their box plants were the playground of the young Alphonse, who went there daily according to his tutor-turned-confidante, Abbot Dumont, priest of the church of Saint-Paul from 1803. A tormented man, he was a wine négociant before taking the habit, and Lamartine secretly based his poem “Jocelyn” on him, published in 1860.

Terroirs - Mâcon-Bussières

Terroirs

The vines of Bussières, planted between 250 and 350 meters above sea level, cover two hillsides facing one another. Beyond the Petite Grosne, the vines face north (Les Cornins, Mont Brison). On the flanks of the Monsard, from Le Grand Bussières to Le Petit Bussières, those plots facing south-southwest enjoy some lovely sunshine. On the edge of Pierreclos, the vines face southeast (Les Fourneaux), which is perfect for the Gamay grape.


In this area of transition between sedimentary rock and crystalline base, acidic sandy-clay soils begin to appear, to the west of Bussières and in the lieu-dit of Les Cornins, while at the foot of the Monsard and En Prole, the stony soils made up of hard limestone offer the perfect material for building walls around the clos, namely Sinemur limestone with gryphaea dating back some 200 million years, and Bajocian limestone with crinoid fossils that dates back around 170 million years. 

 

 

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