Albert Bichot : Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru "Vide-Bourse" 2024

Characteristics and tasting advice for Albert Bichot’s Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru "Vide-Bourse" 2024

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a remarkably luminous pale gold hue.

Nose

The bouquet shows remarkable elegance, with notes of fresh citrus and delicate white flowers. With aeration, the wine gradually develops aromas of dried fruits, hazelnut and subtle spices, reflecting fine aromatic complexity. Brioche and vanilla notes brought by barrel aging complete the ensemble harmoniously.

Palate

On the palate, the wine displays a broad, rich and intense structure, beautifully balanced by pronounced minerality that reflects the influence of the limestone terroir. The generous body contrasts elegantly with freshness maintained thanks to preserved natural acidity. Subtle oak lends a pleasant framework without dominating the expression of the terroir. The finish extends at length with fine aromatic persistence, the hallmark of the great Premier Crus of the appellation.

Food and wine pairings

This Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru pairs beautifully with refined fish and delicately prepared shellfish, notably salmon, turbot, oysters, shrimp and crab. It also goes superbly with roasted poultry and white meats, or those served with a creamy sauce, such as chicken supreme with mushrooms in a cream sauce. Mild, soft cheeses also make for interesting gastronomic pairings.

Serving and cellaring

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru "Vide-Bourse" 2024 should be served between 12 and 14°C to allow optimal aromatic expression. This wine can be enjoyed young for its fruit with immediate pleasure, while also offering remarkable aging potential, allowing it to be cellared until around 2031, or even beyond under optimal storage conditions.

An elegant, mineral Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru by Albert Bichot

The estate

Founded in 1831 by Bernard Bichot in Monthélie, the Albert Bichot House is part of a family history rooted in Bourgogne since 1350. Permanently established in Beaune in 1912, this merchant-winemaker-and-éleveur House now owns six distinct estates totaling 107 hectares of vines, stretching from the north to the south of Bourgogne. Under the leadership of Albéric Bichot since 1996, representing the sixth generation, the estate has made a firm commitment to organic farming, earning certification in 2014 for its Côte d'Or and Côte Chalonnaise estates. Albert Bichot stands out for its non-interventionist approach to winemaking and its environmental commitment, producing expressive wines full of emotion that faithfully reflect their terroirs of origin.

The vineyard

The climat "Vide-Bourse", classified as Premier Cru in 1974, enjoys an exceptional location in Chassagne-Montrachet, landlocked in the immediate vicinity of the prestigious Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru. The terroir is made up of very well-draining limestone and clay soils, with a remarkably high proportion of small stones and gravel. Located between 220 and 325 meters above sea level, the climat benefits from a south to south-west exposure, favoring optimal sunshine. This distinctive geological combination, inherited from the Jurassic period, promotes rapid drainage and optimal water circulation down to the vine roots, enabling the chardonnay grapes to develop beautifully balanced ripeness while retaining essential, tangy freshness.

The vintage

The 2024 vintage in Bourgogne comes in an exceptional winegrowing context marked by low volumes but remarkable quality, particularly for white wines. The chardonnays of the Côte de Beaune were relatively spared the weather events that caused considerable damage in Côte de Nuits. While natural alcohol levels remain moderate, the wines paradoxically show no vegetal character or undesirable bitterness. The grapes harvested in the climat "Vide-Bourse" showed remarkable fruit purity and healthy ripeness—ideal conditions for crafting a great Premier Cru of fine, elegant expression.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest of the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru "Vide-Bourse" 2024 was carried out by hand with rigorous sorting. Vinifications are deliberately as non-interventionist as possible, a philosophy reflecting the desire to preserve the authentic expression of the terroir. Aging lasts 14 to 16 months in French oak barrels, 30 to 35% of which are first-use barrels. This proportion allows harmonious integration of oak while preserving the aromatic integrity of the terroir. Albert Bichot combines oak barrels of varying ages, toast levels and origins, notably Tronçais and Allier, to achieve discreet, complex oak influence that is always elegantly integrated.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay