2023 Jean-Claude Bachelet, Saint-Aubin, 1er Cru Les Champlots

Benoît and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet manage their estate under certified organic and biodynamic principles, utilizing slow, indigenous fermentations and an extended 24-month elevage to prioritize structural depth over primary aromatics. The Premier Cru Les Champlots is situated at a high-elevation site overlooking the hamlet of Gamay, defined by steep, limestone-dense white marl that dictates the wine’s lean, mineral architecture. In 2023, the estate’s management of generous yields and a warm late-season spike preserved a firm spine of tartaric acid, ensuring the wine maintains its characteristic verticality and tension. The resulting Chardonnay is defined by its fine-grained texture and saline persistence, showcasing a mid-palate density achieved through extended lees contact during two winters in the cellar. This is a technical, site-specific expression that underscores the cooling influence of its high-altitude terroir and the estate's commitment to patient, non-interventionist winemaking.