Domaine Sylvain Pataille : Bourgogne Aligoté "Les Auvonnes au Pépé" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Bourgogne Aligoté "Les Auvonnes au Pépé" 2023 from Domaine Sylvain Pataille

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour reveals a luminous pale yellow hue with delicate golden highlights and crystalline clarity.

Nose
The nose opens with subtle floral notes of hawthorn and chamomile, harmoniously blended with citrus aromas such as lemon zest, white grapefruit and orange oil. With aeration, fine mineral touches evoking flint and chalk gradually emerge.

Palate
On the palate, the wine offers a lovely vivacity typical of its appellation, perfectly balanced by a textural roundness brought about by its ageing on the lees. Flavours of white-fleshed fruits, such as peach, pear and apple, intertwine with a persistent saline minerality, leading to a clean, long, lemony finish.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs wonderfully with seafood such as oysters or scallops, as well as grilled fish with fresh herbs. It also goes very well with an asparagus risotto, tangy summer salads, umami-rich mushroom dishes, or goat cheeses.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, this wine should be served at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. It can be enjoyed now, but its fine acidic structure allows it to age favourably in the cellar until around 2028.

The mineral precision of a white Burgundy from Domaine Sylvain Pataille

The estate

Founded in 1999 by Sylvain Pataille, Domaine Sylvain Pataille is located in Marsannay-la-Côte, the true northern gateway to the region. Starting with just one hectare, the estate now spans around fifteen hectares. Still at the helm of the domaine, Sylvain Pataille, joined by his brother Laurent in 2008, stands out for his respectful approach to living soils. A pioneer in the revival of historic terroirs, the winemaker applies rigorous biodynamic principles to craft authentic wines that reflect the purity and complexity of their origins.

The vineyard

This wine comes from a tiny historic plot named "Les Auvonnes," which once belonged to the winemaker's grandfather. Located at an altitude of 250 metres on an east-facing slope, the very old vines were planted in the 1930s. They thrive on clay-limestone soils rich in small limestone fragments. The vineyard is cultivated according to biodynamic principles, with strictly limited yields and hand-harvesting to ensure optimal concentration and ripeness of the berries.

The vintage

The year 2023 proved to be a contrasted one, with variable weather conditions throughout the growing season. Nevertheless, the vines, farmed using organic and biodynamic methods, showed remarkable resilience in the face of these climatic challenges, allowing the grapes to reach excellent phenolic ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

This cuvée is crafted according to a philosophy of minimal intervention. After a very gentle vertical pressing to preserve the delicacy of the juice, fermentation begins naturally through indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged for about twelve months in used barrels and 600-litre oak demi-muids. This process encourages a subtle textural evolution while preserving the authentic expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

Aligoté (100%).