Domaine de Villaine Bourgogne Aligoté, BouzeronV

Wine Notes

Bouzeron, the start of the Cote Chalonnaise, is a delightful village, the appellation winning recognition through none other than Aubert de Villaine (co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti) and his wife Pamela. Now overseen by Aubert’s nephew Pierre de Benoist – who mirrors his uncle’s belief and ambition for Bouzeron, as well as his precise attention to detail. Here Aligoté, normally assigned the lesser terroirs, is given full slope pride of place, allowed to ripen fully and is from old vines (up to 150years) and a very special clone, Aligoté Doré . This land was originally chosen by monks, a fraternity which exhibits the Midas touch in vineyard choice.

Made from nine hectares of Aligote Doré vines, which manager Pierre de Benoist describes as having an “ancestry in aromatic varieties”. It also has a little more acidity than Chardonnay. 2017’s yields were normal here, after a very small 2016 vintage. Orchard fruit, yellow flowers and honey, with a salty tang of minerality, which to Pierre’s mind recalls the ancient sea bed of Burgundy.