2021 Chardonnay

Karoline and Max are the couple behind Makalié, and the name itself is a combination of the words Maka, which among the Sioux Indians means earth, and lié, which in French means connection. This connection to earth is something the couple takes very seriously. Although 2020 is their first vintage, Karoline and Max have worked at biodynamic domaines for over 10 years and today, they are in the process of realizing their dream of producing artisan wines through an exceptionally attentive approach to working with nature.

The vineyards are located in southwestern Germany in Markgräflerland, which borders the Black Forest as well as France and Switzerland. The vines are carefully pruned on the steep vineyards, and tea compost and plant extracts are used to keep the soil healthy and balanced. The couple generally works with a minimal use of technology and also harvests by hand.

In the cellar, Makalié makes use of spontaneous fermentation and long ageing in wooden barrels and amphora. They completely refrain from fining and filtering and only add a tiny bit of sulphur to stabilize the wine. We are dealing with a microscopic production of a few hundred bottles of each cuvée, so it is certainly not the easiest domaine to work with. Nevertheless, their wines are always extremely convincing with a finesse and elegance that is rarely seen in Germany. The wines of Makalié are pure and precise while being vibrant and authentic at the same time.