Albert Bichot (Long Depaquit)
Summary
Albert Bichot's Domaine Long-Depaquit is a family-owned estate spanning 65 hectares across all Chablis classifications, including parcels in six Grand Cru climats, where they produce exclusively Chardonnay wines from the region's distinctive Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Their winemaking balances tradition with careful modernization, employing hand harvesting for premier and grand cru vineyards, minimal oak influence, and sustainable practices certified by HVE since 2019.
Heritage & Leadership
Albert Bichot was established in 1831 in Burgundy's Côte d'Or by Bernard Bichot. The family business has remained independent throughout its history, passing through six generations of the Bichot family. The company acquired Domaine Long-Depaquit in Chablis in 1968, adding this prestigious estate to their portfolio of Burgundian holdings. Today, Albert Bichot is led by Albéric Bichot, who took the helm in 1996 as the sixth generation to head the family business. Under his direction, the company has reinforced its focus on terroir expression while modernizing winemaking facilities across their estates. The Long-Depaquit estate specifically has been transformed into a cornerstone of their Chablis production, with significant investments in both vineyard management and cellar technology implemented during the early 2000s.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Long-Depaquit encompasses 65 hectares of vineyards in Chablis, making it one of the largest estates in the appellation. The vineyards span all four classification levels of Chablis: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru. The domaine owns parcels in six of the seven Chablis Grand Cru climats: Les Clos, Vaudésir, Blanchot, Les Preuses, Valmur, and Moutonne (a monopole that overlaps Vaudésir and Les Preuses). The vineyards are planted exclusively to Chardonnay on the region's characteristic Kimmeridgian limestone soils, rich in fossilized oyster shells that contribute to the wines' distinctive minerality. The Grand Cru vineyards are situated on south and southeast-facing slopes at elevations between 100-250 meters, maximizing sun exposure while maintaining the cool climate conditions essential for classic Chablis character. Vine age varies across the holdings, with some parcels containing vines over 45 years old.
Philosophy & Practice
At Domaine Long-Depaquit, winemaking follows a philosophy of minimal intervention to preserve the expression of Chablis terroir. Harvesting is conducted by hand for all Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, with gentle pneumatic pressing used to extract juice without harsh phenolics. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for most cuvées, preserving freshness and mineral character. For select Grand Cru wines, a portion undergoes fermentation and aging in oak barrels (15-20%), using primarily older oak to avoid overwhelming the wine's character with wood flavors. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to occur naturally. The estate practices sustainable viticulture under the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification, which they received in 2019. This certification recognizes their efforts in biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, fertilizer management, and water resource management. The winemaking team, led by technical director Matthieu Mangenot, focuses on expressing the individual character of each vineyard site through precise vinification methods tailored to each parcel.