Domaine Faiveley : Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand cru 2021

Although the Bienvenues is not as powerful as the Bâtard, it has an elegant balance that excels its richer neighbour. The wine boasts aromas of ripe peach and melon with a pleasant hint of chamomile and an almost salty mineral note. The texture is concentrated and dense, but the silky elegance and superb balance also come through. The grapes come from a half-hectare parcel acquired in 2008; they are firmly pressed and fermented on native yeasts with most of their lees in cask (60% new), where they stay over two full winters.

Cask sample. Creamy nose with edgy, green-fruited acidity on the palate. Too young to judge really. There certainly isn’t much sign of any Bâtard richness! I'll take a punt at how it will turn out… (JR)