2023 Domaine Talmard Macon-Chardonnay Burgundy 750 ml

Despite the fame the town of Chardonnay has achieved through its most famous creation, very few wine lovers have ever had the chance to try a bottle of Chardonnay from Chardonnay—which is a shame. 

But here’s what we love about that: Despite the fame of the name, the village’s off-the-beaten-path status means there are some serious values to be discovered there.

Recently, the town of Chardonnay has been attracting attention from some of the biggest names in Burgundy—including Lafon, J.M. Boillot, and the Bret Brothers—for its combination of attractive pricing and stellar terroir.

But none of them boast Talmard’s history in the region, which goes back to the 17th century, and we challenge you to find a better under-$20 white Burgundy than the Talmard Mâcon-Chardonnay. 

Gérald Talmard is just the most recent in a line of grapegrowers from his family—the one that goes back to the 17th century—but he may have had the most dramatic impact. Young and quality-focused, he’s taken the clan’s esteemed domaine to new heights, building a modern cellar and updating the equipment to get the most out of the exquisite grapes from his family’s lands.

Importantly, he believes in picking earlier than many of his neighbors to balance the richness of the warm Mâconnais with zesty acidity. To preserve their bright fruit and delicate aromatics, he takes those grapes and ferments them low and slow in stainless-steel tanks, then ages them in the same vessels.

All that’s left is to frequently reach into your cellar—and pour copiously.