PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
A benchmark expression of Aligoté from Burgundy’s sole village appellation, Bouzeron—this 2022 vintage from the legendary Domaine de Villaine (co‑founded by Aubert de Villaine of DRC fame) is organically grown and vines range from 10–90 years old.
100% Aligoté Doré, hand-harvested and fermented using native yeasts, then aged 10–12 months in a mix of large oak and stainless steel to preserve vibrancy
Sourced from limestone–marl vineyards in Bouzeron’s high-altitude slopes, yielding wines with structural elegance and terroir clarity
Delicate yet expressive: green apple, lemon zest, lime, and pear are accented with floral linden notes, white blossoms, almonds, beeswax, and a touch of petrichor (fresh stone freshness after rain)
Crisp and medium-bodied, with lively acidity driving flavors of citrus peel, white pear, pineapple, and herbal nuance. A fine thread of saline minerality and gently nutty depth makes for a satisfying, clean finish
Enjoy now through 2030; its taut structure provides excellent cellar ability for evolving complexity .
Pairs beautifully with seafood, shellfish, sushi, fresh goat cheese, asparagus, or spring salads—any dish that benefits from citrus brightness and mineral clarity.
A rare, premium Aligoté with clarity and finesse; showcases organic, low-intervention winemaking from a Domaine with top-tier pedigree
Offers an elegant, refined alternative to Chardonnay—visibly floral, fresh, and terroir-driven with a crisp, flinty backbone .
100% Aligoté Doré from 65 - 115 year old vines
Aubert de Villaine deserves the accolades he receives. He is a reluctant hero, an unlikely trait in a man of such accomplishment, intellect, and inherent sense of noblesse. Heir to one of the most enviable wine legacies of all time, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, the young Aubert was more interested in literature and law than wine. After spending time in New York working for an importer of Burgundian wines, he finally returned home in the mid-nineteen sixties to assume his role as co-director of DRC.
In the 1970s, Aubert and his American wife, Pamela, sought less pedigreed pastures to call home. They finally settled in the village of Bouzeron, well-situated between Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay, Rully, and Mercurey, in the Côte Chalonnaise. However high profile his day job, Aubert still considers himself a vigneron like any other, and Bouzeron’s off-the-beaten-path location left him alone to make his own wines without the demands of upholding an international reputation. The domaine was horribly rundown when the de Villaines took over, but years of studying this unique terroir have made them pioneers in one of the last forgotten enclaves of Burgundy. The monks of the great abbey of Cluny first planted vines here in the twelfth century, leaving a legacy that has endured for centuries. Consequently, the grape varietal that reigns supreme today is the dry, white Aligoté—an unusual celebrity given its work-horse reputation in the middle of Chardonnay country. Bouzeron boasts the best Aligoté in Burgundy, the Aligoté Doré, (instead of the lesser clone, Aligoté Vert) which gives smaller yields to produce wines with more expressive aromatics. Although the grape was overlooked until 1979 when it first earned the appellation Bourgogne Aligoté de Bouzeron, the I.N.A.O. finally upgraded the appellation to A.O.C. Bouzeron in 1997, largely due to Aubert’s advocacy over the years. Aubert’s single vineyard Bourgognes, both in blanc and rouge, are equally outstanding representations of the unlikely pedigree found in this corner of the region.
The de Villaines farm three appellations within the Côte Chalonaise, namely Bouzeron (Aligoté), Rully (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) and Mercurey (Pinot Noir). Their single-vineyard parcels are stunning examples of what this complex and amazing terroir can yield. Though their wines are quite enjoyable young, their ability to age well is what one might expect from a master such as de Villaine. Much of this is due to both the diversity of his vinestock and his organic and biodynamic methodology in the vineyards, both of which Aubert stands by with great conviction. He also ferments his Mercureys and Rully rouge in wood tanks, a style adopted from DRC.
Pierre de Benoist, Aubert’s nephew, currently directs the domaine, upholding the sense of tradition, excellence, and standards for which it has become so well-known. In 2010, Aubert was awarded Decanter Magazine’s prestigious “Man of the Year” Award, a distinction that, unsurprisingly, the modest Aubert seemed reluctant to accept.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
