Jean Chartron : Bâtard-Montrachet Grand cru 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 from Jean Chartron

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a golden hue with luminous highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals aromatic complexity reminiscent of a warm, buttery croissant, alongside notes of honey, dried fruits and spices. Aromas of pear, yellow apple and toasted nuts round out this elegant bouquet, while a mineral touch of fern adds depth.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a monumental structure combining suppleness with mineral freshness. Its voluptuous texture unfolds with elegance, revealing remarkable volume and a persistent minerality. The long, intense finish leaves impressions of candied ripe fruit and deep minerality. This 2021 vintage stands out for its lighter, more elegant profile, with excellent minerality and a precise acidity typical of great classic vintages.

Food and wine pairings

This Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru pairs beautifully with noble, sophisticated dishes. It matches perfectly with foie gras terrine, caviar, and shellfish such as lobster, langoustines or large wild prawns. Firm-fleshed fish such as turbot or monkfish also make excellent pairings. Quality poultry served with creamy mushroom sauces or veal prepared with butter will enhance this great white wine from Burgundy.

Serving and cellaring

The Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be cellared and will improve until around 2036, with an optimal drinking window spanning 8 to 15 years.

An elegant, mineral Burgundy grand cru signed Jean Chartron

The estate

Founded in 1859 by Jean-Edouard Dupard, Domaine Jean Chartron represents five generations of winemaking expertise in Puligny-Montrachet. Since 2004, Jean-Michel Chartron has run the estate, joined in 2015 by his sister Anne-Laure. Together, they farm 14.5 hectares across 23 appellations in the Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise, in Burgundy. The estate stands out for its three prestigious monopoles, including Clos des Chevaliers in Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru. Practicing uncertified organic viticulture and holding the Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3 certification, the estate embodies Burgundian excellence with vines averaging 40 years of age.

The vineyard

Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru covers 11.86 hectares split between Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. Situated at an altitude of 240 to 250 meters, this climat benefits from eastern and southern exposure on a gentle slope. The soils, of Jurassic origin dating back 175 million years, are characterized by exceptionally deep clay-limestone. This unique composition combines the mineral intensity of limestone with sufficient water-retention capacity, creating ideal conditions to produce wines of remarkable complexity.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage will be remembered as one of the most challenging in the recent history of Burgundy. A devastating frost accompanied by snow hit between April 5 and 9, destroying a large part of the buds after an abnormally warm March. The Côte de Beaune suffered particularly from these conditions. The cool, rainy spring encouraged the development of fungal diseases, requiring constant vigilance. Fortunately, September brought milder conditions with a life-saving north wind, allowing harvesting in dry weather from September 20 onward. Yields were drastically reduced, but the harvested grapes revealed remarkable quality.

Vinification and aging

The Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 is vinified using traditional Burgundian methods. The grapes are gently pressed as whole clusters in pneumatic presses, then the must undergoes static settling. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in oak barrels at controlled temperature, alongside malolactic fermentation. Aging is carried out on fine lees for 10 to 18 months, with regular lees stirring during the first six months. The barrels, all from Burgundian coopers, include 40% new oak and 60% barrels used one to three times, thus preserving the wine’s delicate mineral complexity.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay