Domaine Bachelet-Monnot

Its creation in 2005 followed a reorganisation of the Bachelet family holdings in Maranges, Santenay, Chassagne and Puligny-Montrachet. It was boosted in 2011 when Bachelet senior, suitably impressed with their achievements, handed over the rest of his vines to their careful ministrations. They now have 22 ha of which 8 ha are in the commune of Maranges. Many of the vines are old giving low yields which average 35 hl/ha. The estate is not quite organic but is ‘très lutte raisonnée’ (very sustainable) because the brothers prefer the right to perform treatments when absolutely necessary. The combination of those old vines and this careful management of the vineyards results in pure and concentrated fruit in the wines. They therefore eschew bâtonnage (the stirring up of lees in barrel) as they feel it hides the purity of their whites. Alex and Marc also use larger, 350 litre barrels for their whites, as the lower ratio of oak to wine avoids any oakiness in the wines. The wines’ crystalline flavours match the style of the crisp, modern tasting room, itself a contrast with the family’s old courtyard in Dezize-lès-Maranges.