Albert Bichot Rochegrès Moulin-à-Vent 2020

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

The Moulin-à-Vent appellation covers a surface area of 1,600 acres in the north of the Beaujolais region.
The Moulin-à-Vent appellation covers a surface area of 1,600 acres in the north of the Beaujolais region.
Our 12.3-acre estate is ideally located at the heart of one of the 18 recognized Climats "Rochegrès", which, as its name (sandstone rock) would suggest, features outcrops of the granitic parent rock amid the vines.
The vines benefit primarily from southeastern exposure and thrive in poor, very pure, pink granitic soil. They are therefore obliged to plunge their roots deep down to get the nutrients they need.
This wine is crafted with grapes from the oldest vines of the "Rochegrès" terroir.

The grapes are handpicked before fermentation in open top tanks for 18 days. Half of the wine ages in 30% new oak barrels for 9 months

The intense nose reveals scents of ripe red fruit (cherry) that will evolve over time toward notes of flowers (rose), spices and, eventually, forest undergrowth. The palate is marked by its body and roundness, and boasts elegant, well-rounded tannins. On the finish, the sensation of a harmonious alliance between body and finesse, indeed the expression of this terroir in all its purity, can be perceived.