Domaine A. et P. de Villaine : Bouzeron Village "Aligoté" 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Bouzeron Village "Aligoté" 2024 Domaine de Villaine

Tasting

Colour
With beautiful clarity, this white wine reveals a pale gold hue enhanced by delicate green highlights.

Nose
Frank and expressive, the bouquet reveals mineral aromas of chalk and stone, harmoniously blended with floral notes of hawthorn and acacia.

Palate
The palate offers a lovely balance between roundness and tension. It unfolds citrus flavours, such as lemon and grapefruit, along with hints of white stone fruit. The long, saline finish stands out for its fine, thirst-quenching bitterness and beautiful mineral backbone.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs perfectly with seafood, particularly oysters, shellfish or fish prepared with citrus. It also goes very well with white meats in a light sauce, a mushroom risotto, as well as cheeses such as goat cheese, Cantal or Roquefort. It also pairs beautifully with Asian cuisine.

Service and Storage

For optimal enjoyment, it is recommended to serve this wine at a temperature between 11 and 12°C during a meal, or between 10 and 11°C as an aperitif. This wine can be enjoyed young for its freshness, but also has the structure needed to age in the cellar until around 2034.

The Pure Expression of Aligoté on the Terroir of Bouzeron by Domaine de Villaine

The Estate

Acquired in 1971 by Aubert and Pamela de Villaine, Domaine de Villaine is located in the Côte Chalonnaise, in Burgundy. A pioneer in the recognition of its appellation, the estate distinguished itself through its early commitment to environmentally responsible viticulture, becoming certified organic as early as 1997. Today, the estate is still owned by its founders, while management and operations are handled by their nephew, Pierre de Benoist. He continues the family philosophy by promoting the authentic expression of the terroirs through demanding farming methods.

The Vineyard

The grapes come from seventeen distinct plots spread across the Bouzeron appellation. The vines, aged between 65 and 115 years, are planted on the upper slopes of the valley, at an altitude ranging from 270 to 350 metres. They benefit from an ideal east and southeast exposure. The terroir consists of lean, poor soils, combining white marls from Oxfordian limestone and brown soils from Bathonian limestone. The vineyard is farmed according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture, favouring naturally limited yields.

The Vintage

The year 2024 was marked by a particularly warm growing season, with temperatures above historical averages. These favourable weather conditions allowed the berries to reach full phenolic maturity while maintaining an optimal balance between sugar accumulation and the preservation of natural acidity.

Winemaking and Aging

After manual harvesting and meticulous berry-by-berry sorting, the whole clusters are gently pressed at low pressure. The clear musts ferment under temperature control in a combination of stainless steel tanks, wooden vats and oak foudres. Aging then continues for ten to twelve months, mainly in large oak foudres allowing gentle micro-oxygenation. To preserve the wine's aromatic freshness, it does not undergo malolactic conversion.

Grape Variety

This wine is made exclusively from Aligoté (100%), and more specifically from the qualitative clone known as Aligoté doré. A historic and emblematic grape variety of the appellation, it finds here a terroir of choice to express its full complexity.