Jean-Marie Guffens, the winemaker and owner of Verget has been described by Robert Parker (World’s top Wine Critic) as “The world’s greatest Chardonnay winemaker”. His wines speak for themselves and are normally over subscribed on release as agents and wine merchants fight for allocations.

We are delighted to advise that we have managed to negotiate allocations of the following and they are in stock now!  Hurry as stock will go quickly. 

For further information on Verget wines go to the Verget wine producer profile on the website.

Bourgogne Terriors du Cote d’Or, Verget 2008 – £9.99
The grapes are sourced from Meursault and Puligny Montrachet. Apply fresh in style with creamy complexity and a touch of minerality and finesse. Lacking the richness of the 2005 & 2006 vintage but still excellent. Pure in style and very well balanced.

Macon Charnay ‘Clos St Pierre’ Verget 2008 – £10.99
Richer in style than the Bourgogne with more melon fruits and a hint of creamy vanilla. Enhanced on the palate added fruit and creamy, beautifully balanced with the fresh acidity and integrated oak. Great finish.

Saint Veran ‘Le Clos’ Verget 2008 – £13.99
Again more serious is style. Very pure with orchard fruits, white peaches, a touch minerals and well balanced citrus characters. Very smooth with great balance and length.

Prices Include VAT. Normal delivery conditions apply.

We also have a very small parcels of White Burgundy wines, see below, available at the end of November. Prices are In Bond per 12 x 75cl bottle case.  Special In Bond conditions apply click on the wines for more detail.

Pouilly Fuisse ‘Terres de Pierres, Verget 2008                            
Puligny Montrachet, 1er Cru ‘Sous Le Puits’ Verget 2008                
Macon PierreClos Chavigne Blanc, Domaine Guffens-Heynen 2008

Meet the Winemaker

Jean-Marie Guffens

Verget, France

He has been called (by Robert Parker no less) “The worlds greatest Chardonnay winemaker”.  He started Verget in 1990 criss-crossing Burgundy to find where the best grapes, the oldest and best vineyards were situated.  Making his way he convinced the vineyard owners to supply him with good quality grapes.  The standards that he has set and the collaborations he has established over the years have cemented a real passion amongst the growers to constantly improve the quality of their products.  

Jean-Marie has a distinct winemaking process and has developed a unique style all of his own.  His wines display precision, good sharpness of fruit and considerable mineral focus married to good rich textures. In recent years he has undoubtedly been responsible for some of the most inspirational wines to come from Burgundy.

How did you get started in the wine trade?

I became winefarmer in 1980 after having tried to be an actor and a architect and as I was earning no money at all I became a courtier selling the wines of other wine farmers.  I got tired of this so decided to make the wines myself that people asked me for and started Verget in 1990

What’s been your proudest achievement to date?

Adopting my two girls in Colombia.

Provide a brief description of Verget.

We have built successful relationships with many different growers over the years.  We are hands on and work to produce the best every time.  Our grapes are all handpicked.  These are loaded in small cases to preserve the health of the grapes, carefully transported, re-sorted if needed and pressed using a pneumatic press.  There is total control of the winemaking from the beginning to the end.  All wines are vinified, ‘raised’ and bottled at Verget.

What is your winemaking philosophy?

The best grapes make the best wine.

What’s your most exciting grape variety?

Chardonnay of course, because she always ripens and permits the soil to go through the varietal character.

What do you consider to be your biggest challenge of winemaking in Burgundy?

To make good wines at popular prices at Verget.

What’s the next step for Verget?

Me getting tired and Julien (my No.2) taking over the day work!

If you could own one wine property in the world what would it be?

Château d’Yquem.

Who has been your greatest influence in the wine trade?

Mr Lucien Peyraud of Domaine Tempier in Bandol

What’s your favourite wine and who would you share it with?

Beside my own wines I love great champagnes and great sauternes and will only drink it with friends and family sitting outside in the evening at Tourettes.

Favourite place to relax away from the vineyard?

Under the olive trees at Tourettes or on Broadway Avenue in New York.

For a full list of the Verget wines available to buy on our website click here.

The number of wines on our list is expanding all the time, and we relish the opportunity to show some of the wines in our range to our customer’s at our annual wine tastings.

Some of the most exciting wines to be added to our list recently are the wines of Sumaridge, South Africa. Winemaker Gavin Paterson (formally of Hamilton Russell) is passionate about his wines and the sheer quality is remarkable.

Also new to our list and definitely worth trying are the new ‘Mapu‘ wines from Chile (owned and run by Domaines Baron Philippe de Rothschild). The best thing about these wines is that they offer great value for money without compromising on quality.

At this year’s tastings we will be showing a wide range of wine from all over the world including; from Burgundy, we have the new wines from Henry Fessy, Nicolas Potel, Verget, Vincent Girardin and JJ Girard. An interesting selection of clarets including Gigault Cru Bourgeous 99, Dasvin Belair 98 and the Larose Beauloieu 2001.

In the coming weeks we have the following wine tastings, please let us know if you would like to attend:

North Yorkshire – Masham
Masham Town Hall, Masham, North Yorkshire HG4
Thursday 9th October 5.30pm to 9pm (more…)