Domaine Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Blanc 2017

“Everyone is on the lookout for Burgundy’s next white-wine star … and brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet, who created this property in 2005 from their father’s and uncle’s land, are quietly making a solid claim. Their low-key winery is in Dezizelès-Maranges, at the southern tip of the Côte de Beaune, but their vineyards represent a great cross-section of Puligny, Chassagne and Meursault.” Jon Bonné, punchdrink.com

“Many of you will already be aware how much respect I have for Marc and Alec Bachelet who are doing wonderful things down in Dezize-lès-Maranges... these guys are just making stupendous white Burgundy wines that rank alongside the best you can find… If you have not discovered the Bachelet brothers yet, it's time to do so.” Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker)

Australian Chardonnay is enjoying a purple patch now, and we are loving it. Though our best producers are being compared to the stars of Burgundy, whose Chardonnay’s are still the global benchmark. Prices reflect this, with the US, China and Europe taking most of the allocations, pushing prices up past what most can justify. However, high-quality French Chardonnay is an itch we need to scratch at Press, for its uniqueness, deliciousness and intensity. We are always searching for the next star, who is churning out quality at a reasonable rate.

We think we have found one, and the Bachelet brothers at Bachelet-Monnot are it. This is their 2017 Burgundian Chardonnay (Bourgogne Blanc) that, for white lovers out there, you should try. They work with vineyards in all of the blue-chip villages of the Cote de Beaune in Burgundy (Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault). These villages are the home of the worlds best Chardonnay vineyards, there is no question.

Marc and Alexandre Bachelet started their Domaine in 2005 with some vineyard plots passed down through their family, and have been gathering attention ever since, particularly for their whites. This wine is drawn from only 1.3 hectares of some seriously impressive terroir; 20 to 50-year-old vines in the Puligny-Montrachet area and a plot of young-vine Chassagne-Montrachet on chalky, limestone soils. As a result, the wine is very Puligny in style, with white floral and flint aromatics, and a limey, lemon cream, pithy tension on the palate, with serious depth and length. It is for those that enjoy powerful, mineral, tense and fresh Chardonnays (think Tolpuddle in Tasmania). Puligny’s of this quality are routinely double the price, regularly in triple-figures, so the pedigree and quality here is a great introduction to serious white-Burgundy.

The wine-making is minimal and reflects a confidence in sustainable farming and lo-fi work in the cellar that enables the terroir to show through. Oak is carefully used to meet and support the fruit but not overpower it. There is an elegance and restrained power that is a hallmark of white burgundy. The fruit has density though there is a salivating acidity that leaves you wanting more. 

Enjoy the wine for the next five years. Serve with white fish and/ or shellfish, with butter sauces and bistro salad. There is loads of citrus and minerality which will also suit some briny oysters with lemon.