Domaine du Pavillon Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 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 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.

Located in the "Languettes" climat, on the south/southeast facing slope of the hill of Corton, the plot, formerly the property of the Abbesses of the Lieu-Dieu abbey, is nicknamed "Vigne Dieu" (God's Vines) by historians and the older generation of growers in Aloxe-Corton. This terroir is famed for its powerful white wines due to the high amount of sunshine the vines are exposed to, yet they are also extremely pure and sophisticated, both on the nose and the palate.

The grapes are handpicked before fermentation in oak vates. The wine ages for 14 months in 30-35% new oak barrels.

The highly wine complex offers a harmonious ensemble of notes of white and yellow-fleshed fruit, along with citrus and tropical fruit that mingle with subtle spicy, mineral, buttery nuances, which often evolve toward aromas of honey. On the palate, this wine stands out for its remarkable concentration, perfect balance and distinctiveness. Its intense finish boasts remarkable length.