Bourgogne Aligoté AOC 2022

Wine description for the Bourgogne Aligoté AOC 2022 from Rémi Jobard

In the rolling hills of Burgundy, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand, Rémi Jobard works with a grape variety that is all too often overshadowed by the more famous Chardonnay. However, his Aligoté is not a modest supporting actor, but a wine of character in its own right that expresses the chalky essence of Meursault with remarkable precision.

General information

For three decades, Jobard has pursued a consistently organic approach, which culminated in official organic certification in 2008. His philosophy is characterised by respect for the terroir and the desire to allow the mineral voice of the soil to speak unadulterated. The decision to use 600-litre Stockinger barrels instead of the usual 228-litre barriques is not a fad, but a conscious artisanal decision: The slow exchange of oxygen promotes the development of complex flavours without the wood gaining the upper hand.

Interestingly, this Aligoté is a relatively new chapter in Jobard's repertoire. While his father was still selling the grapes to merchants, Rémi decided to explore the potential of this often underestimated grape variety himself - a decision that enriches Burgundian viticulture with a remarkable interpretation.

Visual impression

In the glass, the wine has a clear, light yellow colour with lively green reflections reminiscent of the first leaves of spring. The silvery shimmering rim testifies to youth and freshness - like morning dew on limestone.

Nose

The aromatic palette unfolds with an expressiveness that is unusual for Aligoté. Here, the warm 2022 vintage reveals itself in a lavish abundance of fruit: crisp yellow apples with soft reddish cheeks dominate, accompanied by the velvety sweetness of ripe vineyard peaches. A delicate note of osmanthus blossom lends the bouquet an exotic dimension reminiscent of warm summer nights. This bouquet of fragrances is no coincidence, but the result of precise craftsmanship - a tribute to the often unrecognised complexity of the Aligoté grape.

Palate

The fruit parade continues on the palate: juicy nectarine and crisp apple form the foundation, while a subtle hint of woodruff and tarragon provides an unexpected spicy complexity. But then the wine reveals its Burgundian soul - the phenolic flavours emerge and lend the wine structure with fine tannins that caress the tongue like a silky ribbon. The chalky minerality of the Meursault terroir manifests itself in a subtle salinity that characterises the finish and ensures a refreshing length.

What characterises this Aligoté is the balance between the sun-drenched fruitiness of the 2022 vintage and the structure-giving minerality, which is preserved by Jobard's careful vinification. It is neither overly opulent nor ascetically austere - rather an eloquent mediator between hedonism and terroir expression.

Food pairing suggestions

The vibrant acidity and mineral precision of this wine predestine it for a variety of culinary accompaniments:

Fried asparagus with Maltese sauce - The earthy sweetness of the asparagus and the buttery complexity of the sauce harmonise perfectly with the fruit-acid balance of the wine.

Oysters with green apple - A classic combination in which the salty sea breeze of oysters meets the crisp freshness of apples - both elements are echoed in the mineral character of Aligoté.

Piglet cutlets with fennel, apple and early leek salad with tarragon - The delicate sweetness of the meat, the aniseed-like note of the fennel and the spicy dimension of the tarragon form a fascinating counterbalance to the lively fruit and mineral structure of the wine.

This Aligoté is a convincing argument that the often overlooked grape varieties and wines of Burgundy are in need of a serious re-evaluation - especially when they are in the hands of winemakers like Rémi Jobard, who respect tradition without allowing themselves to be constrained by it.