The Bourgogne Aligoté Blanc 2022 from Château de Chamilly is a versatile wine with aromas of crisp apples, clementines, and citrus fruits on the nose. It is a beautiful glass of wine with a pleasant salty, mineral finish.
Château de Chamilly, a stunning 17th-century castle located in a green valley north of the Côte Chalonnaise, 20 minutes south of Beaune, was built by Noël Bouton, a lieutenant-general in Louis XIV’s army. Since the early 19th century, it has been owned by the Desfontaine family, who have continuously restored and maintained the castle and its surrounding vineyards.
Véronique Desfontaine and her two sons, Xavier and Arnaud, represent the 11th and 12th generations of this winemaking family. They manage 26 hectares of vineyards with iron-rich clay and limestone soils, planted with vines aged between 25 and 80 years. In the appellations of Mercurey and Montagny, the vineyards are primarily cultivated according to the principles of “lutte raisonnée,” meaning no synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides are used. The red wines are neither clarified nor filtered, and only natural yeasts are used, resulting in a pure quality that is evident in the taste.
The Bourgogne Aligoté from Château de Chamilly is made with grapes sourced from both Chamilly and Buxy. After harvesting, the grapes are gently pressed, and the juice undergoes fermentation and aging in stainless steel tanks to preserve its freshness and fruity aromas. Traditionally, Aligoté in Burgundy is enjoyed with a splash of crème de cassis to make a Kir, but this wine is also excellent on its own, as an aperitif or paired with a seafood platter.
With a production of approximately 14,000 bottles per year and an average yield of 55 hectoliters per hectare, this wine offers an authentic expression of Burgundy’s terroir. The vines, with an average age of 70 years, are planted at altitudes between 260 and 360 meters on calcareous clay soils, contributing to the wine’s unique minerality and freshness.
For lovers of affordable Burgundy wines, Bourgogne Aligoté is an excellent choice. Recent vintages, shaped by climate change, have produced riper and more approachable Aligoté wines, which can now be enjoyed on their own without the addition of cassis. Producers like Sylvain Pataille offer biodynamic Bourgogne Aligoté wines that rival the mineral richness of Meursault.
Château de Chamilly also offers tours and tastings for visitors who want to learn more about their wines and the estate's rich history. A visit to the castle leaves a lasting impression and always invites a return.