Log in for prices and ordering

Bachelet-Monnot

‘Spine-tingling’: The 202s from “A Domaine at the very forefront of white Burgundy.” (Jasper Morris)
Bachelet-Monnot

A small but beautiful release from a domaine now widely considered among Burgundy’s elite. Despite the season’s challenges, 2021 is a year of terrific purity and transparency for Marc and Alexandre Bachelet. Although down in volumes to the tune of half a harvest, the whites are magnificent; classic in style and buzzing with the racy freshness of the vintage. Unlike many others this year, the brothers chose not to chaptalize—a common feature of the vintage—so the wines finished at around 12.5% with good ripeness and lip-smacking freshness. To give you an idea of the level the brothers have reached this year, Marc Bachelet believes the 2021 Bâtard-Montrachet is the best his domaine has released.

The reds were cropped at between 23-26 hl/ha, and Alexandre Bachelet pulled back on the use of whole bunches this year; using only sparingly to help fill the tanks. The resulting wines are bright and perfumed and full of racy charm. Like the whites, they do not show the stress of the vintage, and as always, they offer the kind of quality that extends beyond the aspirational boundaries of their appellations. By the way, this year the Santenay Vieilles Vignes includes all the harvest from the single vineyards of Les Charmes Dessus and Les Prarons Dessus, and we have gratefully received our first allocation of the domaine’s Pommard Les Chanlins.

In both colours, the wines can be enjoyed young, yet will improve for a decade and the top wines possibly even longer. It’s up for debate whether or not this is a vintage for extended aging, but then, great wine always finds a way of surprising us. Regardless, here we offer a stimulating range of classically styled Burgundies from a great grower—a rarity in this era of climate change. Followers of this domaine should not hesitate.

The Wines

Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Blanc Côte d'Or 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Blanc Côte d'Or 2021

This Bourgogne Blanc comes from some seriously impressive terroir: 1.3 hectares of 20- to 50-year-old vines in the Puligny area (spread across four parcels) and a plot of young-vine Chassagne on chalky soil. These source vineyards—combined with the quality of the viticulture, harvest date and confident, hands-off winemaking—give one of the best value white Burgundies in our portfolio. As always, a no-brainer.
Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Blanc Côte d'Or 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière Blanc 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière Blanc 2021

La Fussière is the largest climat of Maranges (at the very south of the Côte de Beaune, next to Santenay), covering an area of almost 35 hectares. It faces south, directly towards the start of the Côte Chalonnaise, on a slope between 290 and 400 metres. Alongside a cracking red from these marly, crinoidal limestone soils, Bachelet-Monnot has long crafted an exceptionally pure and taut white Burgundy from a small parcel of 40-year-old vines occupying the vineyard's highest reaches. This site lost almost 70% of its crop due to the frost this year. Raised with 20% new oak, it’s a beautifully pitched, chalky white with crisp apple and white peach fruit, finishing with a tangy, citric snap.
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière Blanc 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet 2021

This fleshy and precise Chassagne is drawn from six well-sited parcels across the village: La Canière, Le Chêne, Les Benoîtes, Pot Bois, En Journoblot and Les Houillères. The parcels are below the 1er Crus except Pot Bois, which is one of Chassagne’s highest vineyards and lies above Paul Pillot’s Chassagne, Clos Saint-Jean. Les Houillères also deserves a callout, sitting, as it does, below Bâtard. The average age of the vines is 30 years. This is always an outstanding, stylish village-level wine.
Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Meursault Clos du Cromin 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Meursault Clos du Cromin 2021

The Clos du Cromin is located on the north side of the Meursault vineyards, near the border of Volnay. Surrounded by dry-stone walls and with a south/south-east exposure, the soil is deep and rich in red clay, although there is still a lot of rock at the base of the vineyard. It’s a powerful terroir—a sunny site that ripens early, according to Marc Bachelet—and it is equally conducive to Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Marc and Alex Bachelet work with a small 0.21-hectare parcel of vines here—half of the vines are reaching 100 years old (some of the oldest vines in Meursault), with the rest planted in 1998.
 

Alex Gambal, Patrick Javillier and J. Confuron-Cotetidot also farm this vineyard, although in our experience these growers craft a fleshier style of wine than the Pulingny-esque B.M. example. No reviews here, perhaps not surprising given how little wine was made in 2021, but you can expect a top-class fleshy and white Burgundy with notes of ripe pear, brown spice and then a vibrant, mineral finish with a twist of grip—a wonderfully precise and structured Meursault.

Bachelet-Monnot Meursault Clos du Cromin 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 2021

The domaine now works with 12 parcels in Puligny, many of which feature in this village cuvée. In the main, this wine comes from five well-placed sites—Les Meix, Les Enseignères, Corvée des Vignes, Les Noyers Bret and Les Houillères—where the youngest vines are 25 years old and the average age is considerably higher. Like all the whites, this underwent spontaneous fermentation and was raised in 350-litre barrels. The latest release is true to the Bachelet style of Puligny, with lifted aromatics (flowers and lime leaf) and a juicy, zesty, long, mineral personality in the mouth. 
Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières 2021

The brothers work a low-yielding, 40-year-old parcel of vines in this highly regarded terroir, right next to those of Leflaive and just below the Truffière vineyard. The name Folatières is said to derive from folles-terres (or ‘crazy earth’), perhaps due to the violent erosion that can occur on these slopes during heavy rain. It’s a vineyard that literally sits a stone’s throw away from the Pucelles and Clavoillon 1er Cru vineyards (bordering the latter). It also lies at the same altitude as Chevalier-Montrachet. So, it’s a very serious terroir. Bachelet-Monnot’s parcel—at around half a hectare—lies in the lower eastern pocket of the vineyard, where the soil is very rocky. This parcel always produces tiny bunches of fruit with little juice, and Marc Bachelet notes that although the vines are “only” 40 years old, the plants behave as if they are twice this age. Only two barrels were produced this year, and we have only 18 bottles. The less said, the better!
Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2021

This vineyard carries the local nickname ‘Petit Bâtard’ on account of its clay-rich soils and the depth, quality and texture of the wines it routinely delivers—sometimes reminiscent of the nearby Grand Cru, Bâtard Montrachet. The Bachelet brothers farm a 0.45-hectare parcel of 40-year-old vines near the top of the slope (next door to Sauzet’s) under the Les Combettes 1er Cru. The soils here are very stony, which brings generosity and flesh, but there’s no shortage of mineral charge. It was raised entirely in 350-litre barrels. As you can read below, the 2021 is a stunning example. Only three barrels were made this year.
Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet 2021

The Bachelet-Monnot Bâtard-Montrachet comes from a 0.14-hectare postage stamp of 50-year-old vines at the cooler, Puligny end of Bâtard (right at the top of the slope and immediately below Le Montrachet) and is planted to a density of 15,000 vines per hectare. This is consistently one of the most mineral and refined examples of Bâtard. Even in sunny vintages, the power associated with this famous site manifests itself as intensity and drive rather than fat. The 2021 wine was raised in a single one-year-old 350-litre barrel. The notes below tell you all you need to know; this is in ‘white of the vintage’ territory. Only six bottles available.
Bachelet-Monnot Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Rouge 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Rouge 2021

This bright and juicy Bourgogne was drawn from three parcels: one-third comes from a parcel of old-vine Pinot Fin in the Hautes-Côtes; another third from vines in Maranges (village level); and the remainder from a Bourgogne parcel on the edge of Puligny-Montrachet. The Puligny component brings perfume, the Maranges brings depth of fruit, and the Hautes-Côtes brings structure and high-toned perfume. The age of these sites is seriously impressive for a red of this level, with 60-, 70- and 80-year-old vines in the mix. Naturally fermented in concrete tanks, the aging took in some new barrels this year. It’s a racy and mouth-watering vintage with a lovely core of silken fruit and a dab of spice on the finish. Great Bourgogne. 
Bachelet-Monnot Bourgogne Rouge 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Maranges Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2021

This charismatic old vine cuvée is drawn from two plots: Le Chamery in Cheilly-lès-Maranges and Le Clos in Sampigny-lès-Maranges. The vines are over 50 years old, and the soils tend towards red clay, shot through with rocky chalk. Alexandre Bachelet notes that these terroirs are reasonably warm, and he uses a significant percentage of whole bunches (although less than usual in 2021) to balance the depth of fruit. It’s a smart wine packed with dark cherry and bitter chocolate notes and plenty of powdery tannins. Terrific value now, this will be even better with a few years in bottle.
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière Rouge 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière Rouge 2021

La Fussière is the largest climat of Maranges (at the very south of the Côte de Beaune, next to Santenay), covering an area of almost 35 hectares. It faces south, directly towards the start of the Côte Chalonnaise, on a slope at an altitude between 290 and 400 metres. With the addition of a new parcel in 2020, the Bachelet vines cover three hectares with an average age of 60 years. Eleven different parcels are blended to make this cuvée. This wine spent roughly 12 months in used casks and was then racked to cement vats, where it rested for roughly six months.
The Bachelet aim has always been to craft finer, more aromatic reds from the Côte’s southern reaches, and this limestone-rich site has helped further this aim. In addition to the reviews below, Jasper Morris opines: “If you don’t know or don’t rate Maranges, this wine is the wake-up call.” Hear, hear! In today’s Burgundy—and bear in mind that this is Burgundy 1er Cru—the word bargain is an understatement! 

Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière Rouge 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Boutière 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Boutière 2021

Bachelet-Monnot owns half of this Clos. Boutière may well derive from old French for ‘end of the field’, which fits, considering this vineyard sits on the border of Santenay at the very end of the Clos Roussots vineyard. Clos de la Boutière has more clay in the soil, which can be felt in the added richness of the wine. It comes from a single parcel of 80-year-old, mass-selection vines, which deliver ripeness and power. All the fruit was destemmed this vintage. Cropped at just 18 hl/hl, you can again expect more depth, texture and seduction than the more linear La Fussière. Again, next-level Maranges and a terrific bargain for 1er Cru Burgundy.
Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Boutière 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Santenay Vieilles Vignes 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Santenay Vieilles Vignes 2021

Santenay was among the hardest-hit villages of the Côte de Beaune in 2021. Hence, this grower has no Santenay Blanc this year and just one red cuvée instead of the usual three; the single vineyards of Les Charmes Dessus and Les Prarons Dessus were blended into this wine. Les Charmes is a site just under the Clos Rousseau 1er Cru on the southeastern slopes of Santenay. While it’s reasonably close to Clos de la Boutière, the terroir is markedly different. Here, the red clay and rocky limestone soils produce aromatic, racy reds of great finesse and freshness. Les Prarons Dessus is one of Santenay’s northernmost vineyards, adjacent to Chassagne 1er Cru Morgeot and just beneath Clos de Tavannes. The chalky soils here are rich in red clay, which, combined with the old vines, gives a darker, rounder Santenay with more flesh and finer tannins. Old vines in Le Chainey and Les Bras, on rocky mountain soils above the domaine’s Maranges vines, also contribute. The sum of its parts is ultra impressive for this commune and this level.
Bachelet-Monnot Santenay Vieilles Vignes 2021
Bachelet-Monnot Pommard Les Chanlins Rouge 2021

Bachelet-Monnot Pommard Les Chanlins Rouge 2021

This is our maiden allocation from the brothers’ vines in Chanlins, a village site that lies just above the 1er Cru of the same name on the Volnay border. The 0.25-hectare parcel of 40-year-old vines comes from Alex and Marc Bachelet’s father, who sold the fruit to négociants until 2011. At 400 metres, it’s one of the highest and steepest vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, which, along with the stony, chalk-rich soils, results in a pretty and mid-weighted ‘Volnay’ expression of Pommard. In most years, the wine ferments with a good percentage of whole bunches, yet this year, the Bachelets used appreciably less, partly due to the ripeness of the stems and partly to help fill the tank. 
Bachelet-Monnot Pommard Les Chanlins Rouge 2021

“What can I say apart from every year these boys slam-dunk another raft of outstanding wines that brim with freshness and vigour. They have the knack… what I love is how they elevate Maranges into something that exceeds all expectations,” Neal Martin, Vinous

“Everyone is on the lookout for Burgundy’s next white-wine star, … and brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet, who created this property in 2005 from their father’s and uncle’s land, are quietly making a solid claim.”
Jon Bonné, punchdrink.com

“It’s a depleted portfolio this year… Yet what survived sends tingles down the spine, not least a brilliant duo in the form of the Puligny Les Referts and Folatières, while the Maranges Les Fussières demonstrates what this oft-overlooked appellation can do in the right hands.”
Neal Martin, Vinous

Other Recent Releases

  • Vins de la Madone: Gamay + Granite
    Vins de la Madone: Gamay + Granite
    The intriguing, tiny, shire-like appellation of the Côtes du Forez is one of France’s h...
    The intriguing, tiny, shire-like appellation of the Côtes du Forez is one of France’s hidden gems. Although it is technically part of the Loire dep...

    Read more

  • Babo: Latest Releases
    Babo: Latest Releases
    They say time flies when you are having fun. The 2023 vintage marks Babo’s 15th year cr...
    They say time flies when you are having fun. The 2023 vintage marks Babo’s 15th year crafting its delicious range of great-value Italian vino. And ...

    Read more

  • Domaine Theulot Juillot
    Domaine Theulot Juillot
    Today, we offer just our second allocation of wines from this impressive chalonnais gro...
    Today, we offer just our second allocation of wines from this impressive chalonnais grower. To recap, Nathalie Theulot inherited the family estate ...

    Read more

  • Lambert Wines
    Lambert Wines
    The 2023 vintage proved another excellent season for Luke Lambert and Rosalind Hall. Mu...
    The 2023 vintage proved another excellent season for Luke Lambert and Rosalind Hall. Much like the preceding two years, La Niña’s cool theme has tr...

    Read more

  • Egly-Ouriet
    Egly-Ouriet
    It’s been a while since we could offer a parcel of wine from arguably Champagne’s great...
    It’s been a while since we could offer a parcel of wine from arguably Champagne’s greatest grower (read greatest producer!) to our entire database....

    Read more

  • New at the Bar
    New at the Bar
    The newest Gin from this progressive Kyneton distillery is Animus’s riff on a London Dr...
    The newest Gin from this progressive Kyneton distillery is Animus’s riff on a London Dry Gin. Compared to their overproof core range of Gins, Octet...

    Read more

  • Noble Rot: Issue 33
    Noble Rot: Issue 33
    In this issue, Dan Keeling reports on a 25-vintage vertical of Romanée-Conti, organised...
    In this issue, Dan Keeling reports on a 25-vintage vertical of Romanée-Conti, organised by the domaine to mark the reprint of Richard Olney’s semin...

    Read more

  • Garagiste
    Garagiste
    “The quality of the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs on offer here are exceptional,” wrote C...
    “The quality of the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs on offer here are exceptional,” wrote Campbell Mattinson in Halliday’s Top 100 Wineries published l...

    Read more

  • Swinney Mourvèdre Rosé 2023
    Swinney Mourvèdre Rosé 2023
    How do you follow a wine described by Erin Larkin as “one of Australia’s greatest rosés...
    How do you follow a wine described by Erin Larkin as “one of Australia’s greatest rosés”; by Huon Hooke as “a super-serious rosé of character and i...

    Read more

View All Offers

More Content

Read More About this Producer