A refined and expressive white Burgundy showing aromas of pear, citrus oil, toasted wheat, anise, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is open-knit yet vibrant, with nuanced layers of nutmeg and subtle oak spice. Crafted with meticulous vineyard work and extended aging on lees in French oak, this wine delivers a harmonious balance of concentration, freshness, and charm. Drink now through 2035.

The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Jan 20, 2022
Drink: 2021-2035

Scents of pear, citrus oil, wheat toast, anise, nutmeg and white flowers introduce the 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles, a medium to full-bodied, ample and expressive wine that's bright but open-knit, displaying a charming, giving profile.

One of my favorite domaines in the Côte de Beaune is Domaine Jean-Claude Bachelet, where brothers Jean-Claude and Benoît have been taking the wines to new heights in recent years. Serious viticulture, carefully chosen harvest dates, long press cycles and extended élevage in wood on the lees, followed by bottling under high-quality natural cork, are the order of the day; and maturing vineyards, more refined cooperage choices, and a spacious new winery in the hamlet of Gamay are surely just a few of the small details that together account for the qualitative progress that's been made over the last decade. In 2019, the brothers waited to achieve full maturity, resulting in above-average alcohol levels and wines that are powerful and concentrated but impressively vibrant; the best, though imperfect, analogy might be a racier version of the domaine's 2015s. Bottled in August 2021, they've come together beautifully. These are serious, layered wines that are built for the cellar, and they all come warmly recommended.

Domainebachelet.vin

The estate extends over 10 hectares with parcels of vines in Saint-Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. A long, rigorous and careful work is effectuated in the vines, including ploughing and the implementation of sustainable viticulture to the highest degree. Indeed, the quality of the wine is a result of the vineyard producing heathly grapes with moderated yields.

The estate owns more than 20 different named-parcels of vines. Vinification and ageing are fulfilled so that each wine reflects it’s unique terroir. Vinification is natural with indigenous yeasts and slow fermentations. Aged for 18 months in french oak barrels on fine lees. Two winters in the cellar contribute to the finesse, depth and structure of the wine necessary for its good ageing capacity.

Know-How

The estate has its roots in the middle of the 17 th century. By 1648, Pierre Bachelet was growing vines in Chassagne-Montrachet. Today, Jean-Claude and his sons, Benoît and Jean-Baptiste, exploit this inheritance. The approach is traditional from the culture of the vine to the vinification and the ageing of the wines. Sustain the heritage and nurture wines that express their native land, this is the philosophy of the estate.