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.