Type: White Wine
Grape Varieties / Ingredients: 100% Chardonnay
Region / Classification: Chassagne Montrachet, Burgundy, France
ABV: 13%
Volume: 750ml
Winery
The Jean-Claude Bachelet et Fils winery boasts a long history dating back to the 17th century. They own 9 hectares of land in the less-known but underrated village of Saint-Aubin, and also hold plots in Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. Following the unfortunate passing of their father, Jean-Claude Bachelet, in 2019, the winery has grown and thrived under the leadership of his two sons, Benoît and Jean-Baptiste. While their father previously sold his wines to merchants, they now bottle them themselves, crafting balanced, complex, and delicious Burgundy reds and whites. With the brothers' meticulous care and hard work, the quality and reputation of their wines have steadily improved in recent years.
Region
Chassagne Montrachet, located in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, boasts the title of one of the world's top Chardonnay white wine villages, on par with Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. The appellation comprises approximately 197.66 hectares for white wine and 106.45 hectares for red wine, including three Grand Cru vineyards: Criots-Batard-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, and Montrachet. Batard-Montrachet and Montrachet are shared with Puligny-Montrachet, and the appellation also includes 55 Premier Cru vineyards.
The vineyards in the north and south of the village exhibit distinct differences. The southern vineyards, with their higher limestone soils and red gravel, are more suitable for Pinot Noir; while the northern vineyards, dominated by clayey limestone, are better suited for Chardonnay. With a continental climate, warm, dry summers and long, cold winters, it is warmer than Chablis, making it an ideal location for Chardonnay grapes.
Jean-Claude Bachelet winery cultivates nearly 10 hectares of land using organic and biodynamic methods and is currently working towards certification. Many plots feature old vines, some planted in 1927, which contribute to the richness and fullness of their wines.
Winemaking
In recent years, brothers Jean-Claude and Benoît have continuously elevated the wines of this region to new heights. Their core principles include rigorous viticulture, carefully selected harvest dates, extended pressing cycles, and prolonged aging on the lees, culminating in bottling with premium natural corks. Mature vineyards, improved cooperage techniques, and a spacious new winery in Gamay are just a few examples of the winery's quality improvements over the past decade. Harvesting at the end of 2021, they boldly retained a significant amount of lees and, as is customary, aged the wines in oak barrels for 24 months, ultimately producing a series of memorable wines.
Rating
【Wine Advocate 91 pts】
The 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Encégnières is also very successful, unfurling in the glass with aromas of confit citrus, pear and bread dough framed by an attractive touch of youthful reduction. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, with excellent volume and cut, it's bright and charming.
