Jean-Claude Bachelet Puligny-Montrachet Les Aubues 2023
We have 3 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Les Aubues is a lieu-dit within Puligny-Montrachet that sits as an enclave inside the better-known Les Encégnières, on the border with Chassagne-Montrachet. What makes it unusual for its location is the soil: compact clay, not the limestone that dominates the upper hillside of Puligny. That clay adds body and mid-palate weight that sets this wine apart from the leaner, more racially mineral expressions higher on the slope. The Bachelet holding here is one hectare — five 456-liter barrels and seven 228-liter barrels in 2023 — a tightly allocated parcel that produces some of the most textural white wine in the range.
The Wine
100% Chardonnay, biodynamically farmed. Indigenous yeast fermentation; aged 24 months in barrel. The 2023 vintage was the first certified organic by ECOCERT at the domaine; whites came in at 13-13.5% with good balance. In warmer years the Bachelets crush rather than whole-cluster press, introducing a light bitterness that adds texture and compensates for naturally lower acidity. The clay soils of Les Aubues give this wine more mid-palate roundness than a typical village Puligny, while the site's freshness keeps the citrus and floral qualities defined and long. Lemon, lime blossom, white flowers, and vibrant acidity that pulls through a finish of excellent length. The balance of texture and minerality here is what white Burgundy at its best delivers.
The People
The Bachelet family has made wine from the hamlet of Gamay, just outside Saint-Aubin, since the early 17th century. Jean-Claude Bachelet, the patriarch who built the domaine's modern reputation, passed away in 2019. The estate is now run by his sons Benoît, whose first vintage here was 2000, and Jean-Baptiste, who joined in 2005. Together they oversee ten hectares split roughly evenly between red and white, with almost half the vines in Chassagne-Montrachet, 40% in Saint-Aubin, and the remainder in Puligny-Montrachet. Conversion to biodynamics began in 2012, and by 2016 all ten hectares were farmed biodynamically. The 2023 vintage marks the first Bachelet wines certified organic by ECOCERT. Fermentation is with indigenous yeasts; the whites age 24 months in barrel, primarily in 456-liter vessels, giving them two winters in the cellar before bottling. A new cellar completed in Gamay gives the brothers the space to work with the same precision they apply in the vineyard.
Food Pairing
Grilled lobster with drawn butter, Dover sole meunière, sea bass en papillote with herbs and lemon, or fresh pasta with butter and white truffle. The combination of clay-driven richness and Puligny's characteristic energy makes this equally at home with butter-based preparations or clean, minerally seafood. It has enough to it to earn a place at a serious dinner table.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Burgundy, in eastern France, encompasses several subregions, but it is the Côte d'Or that is home to many of the world's most expensive and revered wines. The region, primarily a single east-facing slope, has mixed limestone soils that vary dramatically from village to village and even vineyard to vineyard. White wines, crafted from Chardonnay, range from rich and opulent to lean and intensely mineral, while Pinot Noir produces silky, perfumed red wines of exceptional finesse and complexity. Centuries of winemaking tradition have resulted in every plot being meticulously recognized and scrutinized, making the Côte d'Or a true capital of terroir.
Burgundy - Cote d'Or
Chardonnay, one of the world's most versatile and beloved white grape varieties, showcases a remarkable spectrum of styles, from the lean, mineral-driven expressions of Chablis in France to the rich, buttery, and oak-aged versions from California's Napa Valley. Its adaptability extends to cooler climates such as Burgundy, where it achieves elegance and complexity, and to regions like Australia's Yarra Valley, known for producing vibrant and fruit-forward renditions. This grape's ability to reflect its terroir, coupled with winemaking techniques, results in a wide array of profiles, including unoaked, crisp varieties with apple and citrus notes, to full-bodied wines with tropical fruit flavors and creamy textures.
Chardonnay
Certified Organic farming is an agricultural practice where vineyards adhere to strict regulations prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Instead, certified organic growers rely on natural alternatives, including compost, cover crops, and beneficial insects, to nourish the soil and manage pests. Certification requires compliance with established organic standards, typically verified by third-party agencies such as USDA Organic in the United States or EU Organic in Europe. This method emphasizes ecological balance, biodiversity, and sustainability, aiming to produce high-quality grapes and wines while reducing environmental impact and promoting long-term vineyard health. Organic farming is not allowed to use Glyphosate.
