Albert Bichot : Viré-Clessé Village 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Viré-Clessé Village 2024 Albert Bichot

Tasting

Colour

This white wine reveals a pale gold hue with slightly greenish glints, bright and translucent, characteristic of the great Chardonnays of the Mâconnais.

Nose

The bouquet proves very sophisticated, combining notes of exotic fruit and citrus with subtle floral aromas, particularly rose. Fragrances of hawthorn blossom, acacia, spring honeysuckle and broom are accompanied by notes of lemon balm, white peach, verbena and mint.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a balanced structure with notable minerality. Lively and fresh, it has a slight edge while retaining a lovely roundness characteristic of the Mâconnais. The texture is delicate and supple, with a tender, spontaneous quality heightened by a touch of nervy energy. The attack enlivens the palate with minty notes, intensified by its particularly direct and vivacious approach. A touch of sweetness on the finish lends length to the palate, showing how Chardonnay from the Mâconnais manages to capture both finesse and bright acidity while maintaining a rounded texture and sun-drenched fruit.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Viré-Clessé 2024 pairs remarkably well with delicately prepared fish and seafood. The wine's lively acidity enhances delicate dishes, while its minerality complements marine flavours. White meats and poultry, grilled or served with a light sauce, make excellent companions. Its aromatic intensity also suits shellfish and sautéed vegetables. Its slight tang will bring out the best in camembert-style cheeses, while goat's cheeses will also make ideal companions. Tender meats in sauce, such as veal, benefit from the wine's vivacity, which adds depth and body to the pairing.

Service and Storage

The Viré-Clessé Village 2024 should be served between 11 and 13°C. This wine can be enjoyed young to express its fruit, or cellared until around 2029.

A Chardonnay from the Mâconnais Combining Mineral Freshness and Sun-Kissed Roundness

The Estate

Founded in 1831 in Monthélie by Bernard Bichot, the Albert Bichot house remains an independent family business, led since 1996 by Albéric Bichot, representing the sixth generation. Based in Beaune since 1912, this Burgundian house owns six estates covering more than 107 hectares of vineyards, stretching from Chablis to Beaujolais. A pioneer of organic viticulture in Burgundy, it obtained organic certification for its Côte-d'Or and Côte Chalonnaise estates as early as the 2018 vintage. The leading historic buyer at the Hospices de Beaune auction for over 30 years, Albert Bichot embodies Burgundian excellence through a terroir-respectful approach and a constant quest for innovation.

The Vineyard

The Viré-Clessé appellation, created in 1999, is located between Tournus and Mâcon in the southern Mâconnais. It comprises two north-south facing slopes, bounded by the Bourbonne and Mouge valleys. The geology reveals fossiliferous Bajocian limestone and Jurassic marl-limestone strata. The well-drained, east-facing soils contain white limestone pebbles typical of the Mâconnais known as "cray", providing the ideal soil for Chardonnay. Altitudes range from 200 to 440 metres. In 2022, the appellation covered around 456 hectares in production.

The Vintage

The 2024 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly challenging, with rainfall 87% above average. Spring brought early frosts affecting certain vineyards, while on 1 May, devastating hail struck around 2,000 hectares. Relentless rain caused significant losses during flowering, potentially limiting yields. Despite these challenges, the Chardonnay grapes harvested in September 2024 reached good ripeness thanks to a sunny spell. The white wines of the 2024 vintage show an elegance reminiscent of the 2022 vintage. Efficient organisation and the tireless commitment of the teams made it possible to protect the vineyards as best as possible and to select the grapes with great rigour.

Winemaking and Aging

The Viré-Clessé Village 2024 undergoes alcoholic fermentation and ageing on fine lees in the following proportions: 80% in stainless steel tanks and 20% in oak barrels for 8 to 9 months. This approach gives the wine its characteristic balance between mineral freshness and the subtle complexity brought by moderate oak ageing.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay