Domaine de la Vougeraie : Bâtard-Montrachet Grand cru 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 from Domaine de la Vougeraie

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a bright hue with luminous highlights.

Nose

The nose is initially restrained, then gradually opens with aeration to complex citrus aromas, accompanied by subtle popcorn notes and delicate hints of mirabelle plum.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a well-balanced structure with a slightly waxy, appealing texture. Its mineral dimension emerges as the tasting unfolds, highlighting remarkable aging potential in the cellar.

Food and wine pairings

This Bâtard-Montrachet is a perfect match for fish in creamy sauces, butter-basted shellfish such as lobster or langoustines, as well as poultry in cream. It also pairs elegantly with scallops and refined seafood preparations.

Serving and cellaring

The Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 will benefit from decanting before serving and is best enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine will benefit from a minimum of three to four years of aging in the cellar to fully reveal its aromatic complexity.

A classic, elegant Burgundy Grand Cru by Domaine de la Vougeraie

The estate

Created in 1999 by Jean-Charles Boisset and his sister Nathalie, the Domaine de la Vougeraie was born from the consolidation of family vineyards acquired since 1964. Based in Premeaux-Prissey, between Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, and under the direction of Jean-Charles Boisset, the estate stands out for its total commitment to biodynamics since 2001, Demeter-certified, and for its “viniculteur” philosophy, involving complete mastery from grape to bottle. The estate notably owns prestigious monopoles such as Clos Blanc de Vougeot.

The vineyard

This Bâtard-Montrachet comes from three separate plots totaling 0.3823 hectare, planted in 1970, 1985 and 2011-2012. With a south to south-east exposure, these Chardonnay vines benefit from an exceptional terroir made up of thick brown limestone combined with a high clay content. Planting density reaches 10,000 vines per hectare, trained according to the Cordon de Royat pruning system, allowing optimal concentration of the grapes on this iconic Grand Cru of Burgundy.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was marked by particularly challenging weather conditions. After a mild winter and a promising start to spring with temperatures reaching 25°C in mid-March, devastating frosts struck in early April. A cool, rainy spring followed, delaying vine growth. Harvest took place around September 20, a full month later than in 2020, making it the latest harvest since 2011. Despite these challenges, attentive winegrowers managed to preserve quality by adapting their practices.

Winemaking and aging

Winemaking for the Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 took place in wooden vats sized to match the volume of the harvest. Aging was carried out over a period of 16 months in oak barrels, 20% of which were new oak from the Cher region and the forests of Cîteaux, with a medium toast. An additional 2-month maturation in stainless-steel tank preceded bottling, carried out according to the lunar calendar in keeping with the estate’s biodynamic principles.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay