Bruno Colin : Bâtard-Montrachet Grand cru 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2023 by Bruno Colin

Tasting

Colour
This white wine reveals a brilliant pale gold hue, both luminous and clear.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet unfolds in layers, offering first scents of white flowers such as acacia and hawthorn, mingled with notes of candied citrus. Aeration then reveals touches of toasted almond and a smoky minerality reminiscent of gunflint.

Palate
The attack is broad and generous, introducing a full-bodied structure supported by lovely acidity. The palate unfolds flavours of well-ripened stone fruits, such as peach and apricot, enhanced by a crystalline minerality and a silky texture. The finish lingers at length on mineral, toasted, and delicately spiced nuances.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs majestically with foie gras, shellfish such as lobster served with a butter sauce, or poultry in cream sauce with morels. It also enhances fine fish such as sole with beurre blanc, veal sweetbreads, as well as hard cheeses such as an aged Comté or washed-rind cheeses.

Service and Storage

To release its full aromatic complexity, it is recommended to decant this Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2023 before serving. This wine, built for ageing, can be enjoyed at its best between approximately 2026 and 2035.

The Elegance and Richness of a Grand Cru from Burgundy by Bruno Colin

The Estate

Born from the division of a family estate in 2003, the domaine released its first vintage in 2004. Today run by its owner and founder Bruno Colin, this Burgundy estate is based in Chassagne-Montrachet. The vineyard spans just over eight hectares across five prestigious villages of the Côte de Beaune. Renowned for his meticulous approach, Bruno Colin crafts wines that faithfully express the purity and singularity of each terroir.

The Vineyard

The terroir of Bâtard-Montrachet is one of the most illustrious in the region, spanning the villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, just below the famous Montrachet. The vines thrive on deep soils composed of brown limestone, clay, and calcareous gravel. The estate practises sustainable farming, favouring mechanical soil tillage through regular ploughing to encourage deep rooting and microbial life, while rigorously controlling yields.

The Vintage

The year 2023 stood out for its particularly warm weather conditions, even surpassing the temperatures of the previous year. The growing cycle was marked by a notable water deficit and significant disease pressure due to the sometimes humid heat. Despite these climatic challenges, the harvest was generous and the grapes reached excellent phenolic ripeness, requiring, however, a rigorous sorting process to retain only the perfect berries.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes for this Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2023 are hand-harvested into small perforated crates, then meticulously selected on a vibrating sorting table. After gentle pneumatic pressing and settling, fermentation takes place exclusively in 350-litre French oak barrels, with 15 to 25% new oak. The wine is then aged for twelve months in these same barrels, before being racked and blended in stainless steel tanks for an additional resting period of three to six months.

Grape Variety

Chardonnay (100%).