Bachelet-Monnot
Summary
Founded in 2005 by brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet, Domaine Bachelet-Monnot farms 10-12 hectares across the southern Côte de Beaune, producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from limestone-clay soils spanning Maranges to prestigious Chassagne and Puligny-Montrachet. Their minimal-intervention approach combines sustainable viticulture, native yeast fermentations, and judicious oak use (25-30% new for premier crus), allowing them to craft wines of remarkable precision while elevating both lesser-known appellations and grand terroirs with equal skill.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Bachelet-Monnot was founded in 2005 by brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet in the village of Dezize-lès-Maranges, located in the southern part of Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. The domaine was established when the brothers took over vineyards from their grandfather and consolidated other family holdings, creating a new estate that would quickly gain recognition in the region.
The domaine remains under the ownership and direct management of the Bachelet brothers, maintaining its status as a family operation without outside investment. While both brothers are involved in all aspects of production, Marc typically focuses more on the winemaking processes while Alexandre dedicates more attention to vineyard management. This collaborative approach has defined their operation since its inception.
Despite being relatively young compared to many Burgundian estates, Bachelet-Monnot has established itself as a notable producer in the region, particularly recognized for their thoughtful winemaking approach and commitment to expressing the terroir of their various vineyard sites.
Vineyards & Wines
Bachelet-Monnot's vineyard holdings span approximately 10-12 hectares, though the exact current size may vary, across several key appellations in the Côte de Beaune. Their parcels are distributed throughout Maranges, Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, and Meursault, giving them access to diverse terroirs within the region.
The domaine works with both village-level and premier cru classified vineyards. Among their most notable holdings are parcels in Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Folatières" and Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Morgeot." The soils across their vineyards are primarily limestone and clay, typical of the Côte de Beaune region, providing the mineral foundation that characterizes many of their wines.
Bachelet-Monnot produces both white and red wines, focusing exclusively on the traditional Burgundian varieties: Chardonnay for whites and Pinot Noir for reds. Their white wines have garnered particular attention for their precision, minerality, and balanced oak treatment. Their red wines display good fruit purity with restrained extraction, adhering to a style that emphasizes elegance and terroir expression.
Philosophy & Practice
The Bachelet brothers employ sustainable viticulture practices throughout their vineyards, incorporating some organic farming methods in their approach to grape growing. Their winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention to allow the expression of each vineyard site.
In the cellar, they typically use native yeasts for fermentation rather than commercial strains. For their white wines, they employ a combination of barrel and tank fermentation techniques to achieve desired complexity while preserving freshness. New oak usage is moderate, typically around 25-30% for their premier cru wines, ensuring that wood influence complements rather than dominates the fruit character.
The domaine practices longer aging periods (élevage) for their premier cru wines, allowing these more structured offerings to develop greater complexity before bottling. This patient approach to winemaking reflects their commitment to quality and traditional Burgundian methods.
Bachelet-Monnot has established a reputation for producing wines that offer excellent representation of their respective appellations, with particular success in elevating wines from the less prestigious southern appellations like Maranges to noteworthy quality levels.