Bourgogne Aligoté AOC 2021

Wine Description for Bourgogne Aligoté AOC 2021 by Jean-Marc & Thomas Bouley

Colour & Appearance

Pale straw yellow with brilliant clarity – a visual expression of the freshness of the 2021 vintage.

Nose

Precise and lively, this Aligoté presents itself with pronounced citrus notes. Granny Smith apple and limequat dominate, accompanied by fine grassy nuances and fresh herbs. Beneath this shimmers a mineral component reminiscent of ground limestone – a clear fingerprint of Burgundian terroir.

Palate

Here the wine reveals its full personality: powerful yet elegant. The steely acidity is skilfully balanced by a creamy texture – a result of eight months‘ ageing in barrique. Fine minerality runs through the mid-palate, whilst light extract gives the wine substance without weighing it down. The tension between freshness and texture makes this Aligoté particularly interesting.

Finish

Piquant and persistent with lime zest, fennel fronds and a hint of fennel seed. The mineral component returns in the finale, leaving a refreshing, appetite-stimulating impression.

Terroir & Origin

The 0.25-hectare parcel lies in Meursault at the foot of the hill on deep, clay-rich soils over a limestone base. The 14-year-old vines benefit from this classic Burgundian soil structure, which gives the wine its characteristic minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Aligoté, Burgundy’s underrated white grape variety, vinified in fermentation vessel and subsequently aged eight to ten months in barrique. This treatment lends the naturally acid-driven Aligoté additional complexity and texture without compromising its freshness.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The lively acidity and piquant minerality make this wine an ideal companion for piri piri chicken, ribbon pasta with lemon, almonds and asparagus or crispy boiled beef with duck parfait and orange. Also an excellent choice with shellfish, goat’s cheese or fish dishes with citrus aromatics.

Special Features

At just 12% alcohol, a textbook example of elegance and drinkability. This Aligoté impressively demonstrates that in the right hands, the grape variety can be far more than a simple bistro wine – a characterful representative from one of Burgundy’s finest vineyard sites.