Albert Bichot Viré-Clessé 2015

The first traces of the Bichot family track back to 1214. They settled in Burgundy in 1350, in their fief of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois. The family's coat of arms has not changed since nor has its symbol, a doe (biche). Yep, you read that right, you just have to trust a winery that's coat of arms is older than most countries. Albert Bichot's coat of arms was around before America was a mere glint in Columbus' eye! We reckon they've got a secret handshake that predates the concept of commerce... probably learnt it form a woolly mammoth. Regardless, they have had a fair amount of time to hone their skill over at Bichot and it's very apparent in their wine. The Vire-Clesse has wonderfully intense aromas of lemon, peach and mango with subtle minerality on the finish. A timeless classic.

In 1831, Bernard Bichot founded a wine trading business under his name in Monthélie. His son, Hippolyte, succeeded him and bought the family’s first vines in Volnay. His son, Albert Bichot, the first to bear the name, gave the family business new momentum in the late 19th century and settled in the centre of Beaune once and for all in 1912. The second Albert Bichot, who was born in 1900 and was a pioneer of international commerce. He travelled incessantly, across America, Asia and Oceania, in order to introduce and promote the wines of Albert Bichot, which were already gaining great renown. In the second half of the 20th century, his four sons, Albert, Bernard, Bénigne and Jean-Marc, inherited the business along with this know-how. A new era of expansion began with the construction of a large ageing cellar, a new bottling centre and winery. The Vire-Clesse appellation, located between Tournus and Macon, is the most recent of the Maconnais region's village appellations (1999). The wine is exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards, for the most part, are planted on hillsides, where a local type of soil derived from white limestone called "cray" can be found. Wines are Aged 80% in tanks and 20% in barrels for 8 months. This produces a final wine defined by its powerful fruit character, with a light and well-balanced structure, culminating in a long and minerally finish.