Petit Aigle Coteaux Bourguignons Chardonnay & Aligoté AOP 2023

Wine Description for Petit Aigle Coteaux Bourguignons Chardonnay & Aligoté AOP 2023 by Boris Champy

Colour & Appearance

A rich straw yellow in the glass.

Nose

A spicy, herby opening with delicate notes of oak and yeast. Aromas of peach, mandarin and warm tarte Tatin emerge, underpinned by lemon pips, subtle almond, cool stone as well as fresh thyme and lemon verbena.

Palate

On the palate, the cuvée presents itself as lively, fresh and juicy. Thanks to regular bâtonnage, the wine possesses a tactile, mouth-filling texture, whilst remaining transparent and elegant at all times. A straight-line, pulsating acidity and a subtle salinity lead the mouthfeel.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes hail from the estate’s own young vines in high-altitude vineyards surrounding Nantoux in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. The east and south-facing sites are characterised by calcareous subsoil, pebbles and clay. In an era of climate change, these cool high elevations prove to be a true trump card for freshness and balance.

Grape Variety & Vinification

This cuvée of Chardonnay and Aligoté is based on hand-picked whole bunches. Following direct pressing and spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, the wine aged for 10 to 11 months on the fine lees: 65% in oval concrete tanks and 35% in wooden casks. The Petit Aigle line is Ecocert-certified.

Food Pairings

Pairs exquisitely with pan-fried pike-perch on lentils, creamy root vegetable soups or mild goat’s cheese.

Particularities

Boris Champy brings his wealth of experience from the Napa Valley and top Burgundy domaines to this entry-level segment. The maturation in oval concrete tanks lends the cuvée a remarkable creaminess, without masking the typical mountain-fresh race of the Hautes-Côtes.