Lupe-Cholet Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Sorbets 2018

Maison Albert Bichot was established in Beaune in 1831 by Bernard Bichot, grandfather of the first of a line of Albert Bichots.

The current managing director is Alberic Bichot (born 1964) who has revitalised the business which is now based around a series of domaines: Long-Depaquit in Chablis, Clos Frantin for the Côte de Nuits, du Pavillon for the Côte de Beaune and Domaine d’Adélie for Mercurey. Wines with one or other of these denominations will be from their own vineyards, while wines just bearing the name Albert Bichot will be from purchased grapes.

The company has separate vinification centres in Chablis, Pommard, Nuits-St-Georges and Beaune itself. Lupé-Cholet is an associated marque. Christophe Chavel has been looking after the vineyards since 2000, ensuring that they are all ploughed and no fertilisers are used. Alain Serveau, originally from a domaine in Morey-St-Denis, is technical director. Fermentation takes place in wooden vats of varying sizes depending on the specific plot of vines in question, using natural yeasts. Maturation is in oak barrels without too much new wood: 20 to 30 per cent for village wines, from 50 to 100 per cent for grands crus.

Bichot is now a serious player with some excellent red wines which avoid showing too much of a house style, and some fine whites

Morey-Saint-Denis is located in the Côte de Nuits, between Gevrey-Chambertin to the north, and Chambolle-Musigny to the south. The vineyards cover a surface area of 230 acres including 100 acres of Premier Crus and almost exclusively produce red Pinot Noir wines. This appellation offers a combination of the masculine character of Gevrey-Chambertin and the feminine typicity of Chambolle-Musigny.

"Les Sorbets" is a Premier Cru located at an altitude of 250 metres. Its name refers to the rowan trees (sorbiers) that were once commonly found on this plot, prized for their orangey-red fruit, flowers and wood.

The grapes are handpicked before fermentation in oak vats. Ageing is for 14-16 months in 40% new oak.

The intense nose is redolent of red and black fruit (raspberry, blackcurrant, raspberry...) combined with a delicate touch of oak, which will evolve over time towards more complex scents (spices, forest undergrowth, leather...). Fleshy and full bodied on the palate, this wine offers pleasing structure that lends it perfect balance. The long finish is silky and deliciously fruity.