2021 Domaine de Villaine Bouzeron Aligote

Aligoté is often regarded as the refreshing, cheap & cheerful cousin to Burgundian Chardonnay, but recent years have seen a revitalisation of the variety by an increasing number of producers. First and foremost amongst them is Aubert de Villaine, the famous proprietor of Domaine Romanée-Conti, who from his estate in Bouzeron long ago proved what Aligoté is capable of. Aubert works with a specific clone of Aligoté called Aligoté Doré, which is native to the village of Bouzeron. Though this wine certainly does not lack for simple refreshment, its length and persistence amply justify a reconsideration of this humble variety. It’s a remarkable bottle that speaks to the potential of this grape when handled with such care.

There is always a richness to this wine and always a firm backbone. White flowers, crushed rock, citrus zest on the nose with gorgeous white fruit and precise, detailed texture which helps balance the richness. A lot of complexity at this price and always one of the great bargains in white Burgundy. Short supply and always high demand for this wine.

Tasting note

(From the winery) Our Bouzeron comes from vines situated on the best slopes of the appellations. We have planted to Bouzeron the golden Aligoté doré grape, which gives lowers yield and more aromatic wines than its cousin, the Aligoté vert. True to its varietal nature, our Bouzeron is a lively, fruity wine, but it also has a finesse and roundness that spring from the essential nature of the terroir. Upon being gathered and sorted by hand, the grapes go immediately into a pneumatic press. Pressing is slow and gentle in order to obtain clear, non-astringent juice. The musts ferment in tanks or oak tuns at controlled temperatures in order to preserve each wine's freshness and specific aromatic traits.