BY ANTHONY HANSON MW, 18 Jun 2020

Building on 10 hectares of family vineyards, two dynamic brothers, Marc and Alexandre Bachelet have more than doubled the size of this domaine, which now covers 22 hectares (over 52 acres). Different branches of the family hail from Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet, and brought vines with them, down the generations. Now based in the southern Côte de Beaune, the brothers began working with their father in 1996-98, then took over the vines from 2005. They have an enviable range of great whites, but also superb reds, including several from two little-known 1st Growth Maranges vineyards, which lie just south of Santenay – which is also a source of one of their best reds, Santenay les Prarons.

Their whites wines have unfailing purity, tension and energy. Lees-rousing during barrel-fermentation is kept to a minimum, the object being freshness, and length of flavour. Top examples are their Meursault Cromin and village level Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet bottlings. The 1st Growth Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 2018 is a broad, succulent wine, with sumptuous aftertaste. 

To achieve complexity and fruit density in the reds, 20% whole clusters went into their fermentations of 2018 Bourgogne rouge, Maranges La Fussière and Maranges Clos de la Bouttière. Gentle extractions have achieved plump attack on the palate, dense fruitiness in mid-taste, then ample, fresh, gently tannic aftertastes. These 2018s may be enjoyed during 2020, then will soften and expand their flavours during 2021, if given the chance!