Bachelet-Monnot
History and Background
Established in 2005 by brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet, Bachelet-Monnot is located in the village of Dezize-lès-Maranges, in Burgundy, France. Despite being a relatively new domaine, it has quickly risen to prominence for its exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.
Vineyards and Terroir
Domaine Bachelet-Monnot's vineyards are located in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, France, covering approximately 20 hectares:
Soil Composition: The soils are a mix of limestone and clay, providing excellent conditions for grape growing.
Grape Varieties: The estate primarily grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, producing wines that reflect the elegance and complexity of appellations such as Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, and Maranges.
Wine Style and Production
- Key Characteristics: Bachelet-Monnot wines exhibit a signature blend of elegance and complexity. They often present a rich palette of blackcurrant, plum, and spice, intertwined with aromatic notes of tobacco and cedar. The presence of high natural acidity injects a refreshing vibrancy into these wines, enhancing their firm tannins and supporting their capability for graceful aging.
- Winemaking Philosophy: The winemaking philosophy at Bachelet-Monnot is centered around the clear expression of their distinctive terroirs, combining traditional methods with innovative techniques. The estate strongly adheres to sustainable and organic farming practices. Detailed attention is paid to vineyard management, including careful hand-harvesting and selective green harvesting, to maintain high-quality grape standards.
- Influence on Style and Quality: Bachelet-Monnot's meticulous approach to both vineyard management and winemaking significantly influences the style and quality of their wines. The choice to cultivate freshness and maintain high natural acidity in their grapes helps create a fine balance in their wines, providing solid structure and enhancing their aging potential. Additionally, the selective use of French oak aging adds layers of complexity. This deliberate and thoughtful engagement with both vineyard and cellar techniques ensures that the wines are not only powerful and refined but also celebrated for their depth and longevity.
Reputation
Bachelet-Monnot, a relatively young domaine established in 2005 in the Burgundy region of France, rapidly acquired a reputation for producing exemplary wines that strongly reflect their terroir. The prestige of the winery is closely linked to the meticulous approach the Bachelet brothers, Marc and Alexandre, take toward vineyard management and winemaking. What sets them apart is their use of a philosophy that favors minimal intervention, allowing them to produce wines that are pure, focused, and expressive of their individual vineyard sites.
Situated in the village of Dezize-lès-Maranges, Bachelet-Monnot has access to prime Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards, which include holdings in the esteemed appellations of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. They are known for their disciplined sorting of grapes, using only the finest clusters, and for their gentle pressing and judicious use of oak, which ensures that the character of the grapes and the subtlety of the terroir shine through in every bottle.
Unique to their operation is their adoption of a hands-off approach in the cellar, with a focus on using gravity to avoid pumping the must and wine. Additionally, their judicious approach to batonnage, tailored to the needs of each vintage rather than adhering to a rigid formula, helps to maintain freshness and aromatic complexity in their wines.
The Bachelet brothers have successfully positioned their domaine as a critical favorite by consistently crafting wines that are not only a reflection of their distinguished vineyards but also embody innovation in traditional contexts. Their integration of careful, reflective practices in both vineyard management and winemaking ensures that each vintage is a true representation of the place and time from which it came, enhancing their standing in the competitive world of fine Burgundian wine.
Final Thoughts
Bachelet-Monnot, a relatively young domaine established in 2005 by brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet, has swiftly risen to prominence in Burgundy due to their meticulous approach to viticulture and winemaking. Operating out of the village of Dezize-lès-Maranges, they focus on small-batch production from their sustainably farmed vineyards, which include prestigious parcels in Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. What sets them apart is their innovative use of a combination of traditional and modern techniques—such as their judicious, refined use of new oak and a distinctive method of pressing that includes a long, slow cycle that enhances clarity and purity of flavor. This approach has garnered high praise and top scores from wine critics, elevating their profile on the international stage. The Bachelet brothers have quickly positioned their domaine as a critical success, praised for producing expressive, elegant, and balanced wines that beautifully reflect their terroirs.