2022 Domaine de Villaine 'Les Clous Aime' Bourgogne Blanc Côte Chalonnaise

Winemaker Notes: Vinified and aged in twelve months in neutral wood, this cuvée is very expressive, showcasing notes of white flowers, citrus, and acacia. Pierre de Benoist recommends drinking it now if you want to experience the fresh, energetic fruit or waiting 3-5 years if you prefer a denser, more evolved Chardonnay.

In the 1970s, Aubert de Villaine, co-director of Domaine de la Romanée Conti, and his American wife, Pamela, settled in the village of Bouzeron. Upon planting his root in this small village, Aubert made himself a champion of the grape variety that reigns supreme in Bouzeron today—Aligoté Doré. 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. 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.