Albert Bichot : Clos de la Roche Grand cru 2016

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for Albert Bichot’s Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep, intense ruby-red color.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of red and black fruit, accompanied by a touch of tobacco and very fresh menthol nuances. With time, the bouquet will evolve toward more animal and spicy notes.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is rich and beautifully balanced, with an impressive structure and crisp fruit. The intense finish reveals candied and spicy notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 is a perfect match for finely prepared roasted or slow-cooked meats such as beef, lamb, pork, game, and duck. It also pairs very well with medium-aged to aged cheeses. For a classic pairing, choose game with a Grand Veneur sauce.

Serving and cellaring

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 16 to 17°C. This wine can be cellared for seven to ten years or more, with aging potential extending to around 2043.

A Structured, Mineral Grand Cru from Burgundy from the Prestigious Terroir of Morey-Saint-Denis

The estate

Founded in 1831 by Bernard Bichot in Monthélie, the Albert Bichot House is now led by Albéric Bichot, representing the sixth generation of the family. This independent Burgundy house owns 107 hectares of vineyards spread across six estates throughout Burgundy, from Chablis to Beaujolais. A pioneer in organic viticulture, Albert Bichot obtained Ecocert certification in 2014 for its estates in the Côte d'Or and the Côte Chalonnaise. The House stands out for its minimal-intervention philosophy in winemaking, favoring the authentic expression of each terroir.

The vineyard

Clos de la Roche is the largest Grand Cru of Morey-Saint-Denis, with 16.73 hectares. Located between Gevrey-Chambertin to the north and Chambolle-Musigny to the south, this Climat benefits from an east to southeast exposure, at an altitude between 200 and 270 meters. The limestone soils, barely thirty centimeters deep, are dotted with large outcropping rocks that give the Climat its name. This geological composition, from the Middle Jurassic, gives the wines a firm structure and remarkable depth, with characteristics close to Chambertin.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy was marked by devastating frosts at the end of April, resulting in a volume loss of around 40% for Albert Bichot. Despite this setback, the remaining grapes developed particularly flattering balances. Lightly cropped vines ripened faster than expected, making it possible to obtain ripe grapes producing deep ruby-red wines with notes of black fruit, violet, and spice. This vintage ultimately produced round, generous wines true to their terroir.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 are harvested by hand and then carefully sorted upon arrival at the winery. Fermentation and maceration take place in temperature-controlled wooden vats for 18 to 21 days, using indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, with 40 to 50% new barrels, allowing a subtle integration of oak without masking the expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir