Bouchard Père & Fils : Montrachet Grand cru Domaine 2020

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for the Montrachet Grand Cru 2020 from Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Color

The color shows a pale to medium gold hue, lifted by subtle green highlights.

Nose

The bouquet reveals great complexity, unfolding aromas of ripe pear and citrus intertwined with notes of honey and beeswax. Floral fragrances of gardenia, honeysuckle and lilac gradually come to the fore, accompanied by touches of wild herbs and a stony minerality. Aging brings delicate nuances of buttery croissant, toasted almonds and crème brûlée, perfectly integrated into the whole.

Palate

On the palate, this wine expresses a remarkable balance of power, creaminess and finesse. The texture charms with its velvety softness and breadth, supported by bright, refreshing acidity that preserves the overall vibrancy. Concentration shows through on the mid-palate with richness and depth, never tipping into excess. The mineral structure, taut and precise, runs through the entire tasting. The finish stands out for its exceptional length, extending chalky mineral flavors and floral notes with persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Montrachet Grand Cru 2020 pairs beautifully with oysters and seared scallops. It also elevates shellfish in a creamy sauce, notably lobster and langoustines. Noble fish such as roasted turbot make a superb match. This wine harmonizes perfectly with poultry in a cream and mushroom sauce, as well as with foie gras. It can also accompany refined preparations highlighting fresh vegetables and delicate proteins.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Montrachet Grand Cru 2020 at a temperature between 10 and 14°C. This wine has aging potential of at least twenty years, and can continue to improve until around 2040 and beyond depending on storage conditions. Although already enjoyable in its youth, it will gain in complexity and refinement over time.

A Burgundy Grand Cru combining richness and mineral elegance

The estate

Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the oldest and most prestigious houses in Burgundy. Owned by Artémis Domaines (the Pinault family) since September 2022, the estate farms around 130 hectares across the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, representing some 450 plots spread over 77 distinct climats. Bouchard holds the largest area of premier crus in Beaune, including the emblematic monopole of the Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus. Under the leadership of Frédéric Engerer and Jean-Marc Pistre, the operation has refocused exclusively on its estate-owned vineyards since 2023, now certified organic and in conversion to biodynamic farming.

The vineyard

The Montrachet parcel farmed by Bouchard Père & Fils covers 0.89 hectare, acquired in 1838. This legendary vineyard, whose origins date back to the 13th century with the Cistercian monks, benefits from an east to southeast exposure on a gentle slope that promotes optimal drainage. The soils are composed of clay-marl elements, richer and darker than those of neighboring Chevalier-Montrachet. This particular composition, combined with controlled yields, makes it possible to produce berries of exceptional quality, concentrating the aromatic compounds and the minerality characteristic of Montrachet.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy benefited from favorable weather conditions, allowing ideal aromatic ripeness in chardonnay. The balance between water availability and sunshine enabled winegrowers to harvest grapes at optimal ripeness while preserving the acidity and mineral tension essential to the region’s great white wines.

Winemaking and aging

The Montrachet Grand Cru 2020 harvest is carried out by hand in small 13-kilogram crates. The bunches undergo meticulous sorting before whole-cluster pressing for two to three hours, making it possible to select the finest juice fractions. Maturation takes place for sixteen to twenty months in French oak barrels, with 25 to 30% new oak. The final three to four months of aging are carried out in large oak casks, encouraging harmonious integration. Aging takes place in the cellars of the Bastion of the former Château de Beaune, offering naturally balanced humidity and an ideal constant temperature.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay.