Domaine Matrot : Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 from Domaine Matrot

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale yellow to golden hue, typical of great white wines from Burgundy, with remarkable brilliance and clarity.

Nose

The nose opens with vibrant citrus aromas, notably lemon, lime and grapefruit, alongside notes of white-fleshed fruits such as apple and pear. Floral hints of acacia and white blossoms emerge, while subtle mineral nuances evoke flint. With aeration, delicate notes of almond and hazelnut appear, highlighting the wine’s complexity.

Palate

On the palate, this Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 reveals a powerful, mineral structure, with striking freshness despite the warm conditions of the vintage. The wine offers lovely volume and a silky texture, where the discreet influence of new oak brings subtle buttery, brioche-like notes that integrate harmoniously with the fruit expression. The acidity remains well defined, giving the wine lift, energy and tension.

Food and wine pairings

This Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 is an ideal match for grilled white fish such as sole, turbot or trout. It pairs beautifully with shellfish such as lobster, crab and scallops. The estate also recommends enjoying it with charcuterie, poultry, or as an aperitif. Cream-, butter- or fine-herb-based preparations make excellent pairings, as do soft cheeses or aged Burgundian cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Domaine Matrot recommends decanting this Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 several hours before serving to allow the complex aromas to fully develop and to reveal the wine’s complete aromatic and textural dimensions. The optimal drinking window runs from 2022 to around 2027, with the wine able to cellar in excellent condition until the early 2030s with proper storage.

A mineral, elegant white Bourgogne from Domaine Matrot

The estate

Founded in 1835, Domaine Matrot is one of the most respected family estates in Burgundy. Based in Meursault, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the estate now spans around 23 to 24 hectares across several prestigious appellations. Since 2016, Adèle and Elsa Matrot, representing the sixth generation, have been leading the estate with a philosophy focused on the authentic expression of terroir. Pioneers in sustainable viticulture as early as 1976, the estate converted its entire vineyard to organic farming in 2000 and began the process toward official certification in 2023. Domaine Matrot stands out for its measured approach to barrel ageing, favoring older wood to preserve the mineral purity of its wines.

The vineyard

This Bourgogne Chardonnay comes from plots located within the Meursault appellation, planted with chardonnay vines around 20 to 30 years old. The marl and clay soils, typical of this part of Bourgogne, give the wines their distinctive mineral character and ageing potential. The estate practices thoughtful, responsible viticulture using organic methods, including organic fertilization, regular ploughing and rigorous canopy management. Green harvesting helps optimize grape quality, while close monitoring of ripeness ensures picking at the optimal time.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a mild, dry winter followed by an early spring that advanced the growing cycle by around three weeks compared with 2019. Summer brought high temperatures, abundant sunshine and little rainfall. However, relatively cool nights and moderate water stress allowed the grapes to reach excellent physiological ripeness while retaining remarkable acidity. This unusual combination of ripeness and freshness is the hallmark of the 2020 vintage, producing white wines of great mineral tension and outstanding ageing potential, comparable to the elegant 2014 and 2017 vintages.

Vinification and ageing

A few days before harvest, the estate prepares a pied de cuve using the indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grapes. Whole clusters are pneumatically pressed, then the juice undergoes 24 hours of settling before being transferred to barrels. Alcoholic fermentation proceeds with indigenous yeasts over a period of eight to ten weeks, under temperature control to preserve aromatic freshness. The Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 is then aged for around 12 months on lees in French oak barrels, 30% new oak and the remainder in one- to five-year-old barrels. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in full, bringing complexity and roundness. After ageing, the wine spends about a month in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks before a light fining if necessary and gentle filtration through a lenticular filter.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay