Albert Bichot Chablis

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 forgrands 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.

In northern Burgundy, not far from Auxerre, the Chablis appellation stretches across approximately fifteen kilometres around the village of the same name.

It is the monks of the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny who were the first to begin cultivating vines in the region.
The vines of the Domaine (69 acres divided in 34 plots) are planted on rather gentle slopes (5 to 20%) where they benefit from different exposures. So the grapes hail from a mosaic of various terroirs, which lends lovely complexity to the wine due to the fact that the characteristics of each terroir are preserved by being vinified separately.

Grapes are handpicked before alcoholic fermentation in thermoregulated stainless steel vats.
Ageing on fine lees in stainless steel vats for 10 to 11 months.

The nose features elegant complexity and combines intense aromas of candied lemon with subtle hints of white flowers. The structure is neat, chiseled and lively with a mineral finish featuring saline and iodine
nuances.