Aligoté

[Paul Day]

This left me shaking my head. Initially staggeringly yet impressively closed despite an early morning decant: but it did open up enough in the end. It balanced power with finesse. No heavy oak overlay, just the purest mineral bed. Amazing for what it is. Maybe amazing outright. Sorry to report thus.

 

[Alex Lake]

Useful to know. Not! ;-)

 

[Colin Bradley]

I’d never heard of this. Wine-Searcher tells me it retails for over £2,000 including taxes. That would be going some for a Montrachet, never mind an Aligote!

 

[Thom Blach]

As with so many wine prices it is difficult to understand. I have however tasted a good few Montrachets distinctly less impressive than this. It is vastly more approachable now than it was six months ago but is a wine suffused with paradox and mystery.

 

[Nick Amis]

I have a single of this... think I'm still going to sell it, but the note is making me waver!

If I were to drink it, how long to hold off before opening?

 

[Thom Blach]

I rarely nowadays think holding on to single bottles long term is sensible, it seems to me to infuriate the cork gods, but I suspect it will improve over many years.

 

[Dan Baillie]

I rarely nowadays think holding on to single bottles long term is sensible, it seems to me to infuriate the cork gods, but I suspect it will improve over many years.

How did it compare to Madame’s “absolutely disgraceful” version?

 

[Graeme Harvie]

My experience of the CL 2018 when opened in Jan 2020 (drunk in my kitchen as per avatar pic with my dog in the background!) was that it was firmly closed for at least 24 hours and was far more interesting on day 2.

This month I picked up some Cathiard Aligote so will be interesting to try a bottle soon and see what that's like.

 

[Thom Blach]

How did it compare to Madame’s “absolutely disgraceful” version?

Very little in common at all, like comparing A J P Taylor to Gina Lollobrigida; both of course absolutely outstanding in their respective fields.

 

[Dan Baillie]

Very little in common at all, like comparing A J P Taylor to Gina Lollobrigida; both of course absolutely outstanding in their respective fields.

Which was which??!!

 

[William Kelley]

How did it compare to Madame’s “absolutely disgraceful” version?

Not Thom, but if you'll permit me to interject... the d’Auvenay Aligoté comes from a steep, north-east exposed site with lots of stones, and then sees 100% new oak, so it's a very chiseled, taut wine, with lots of texture and structure from low yields and élevage. Charles' version comes from deeper soils on the plane below Vosne-Romanée, so it's a sunnier, riper site, meaning that the wine is more enveloping and sumptuous. It's also lower sulfur and sees no new oak, so you don't have to forget it for a decade plus which is what I would recommend to anyone who has d'Auvenay Aligoté in their cellar.

 

[Thom Blach]

This 2018 really seems to need lots and lots of time, William, not that it's not enjoyable now with a fair bit of coaxing.

 

[billnanson]

Devoured a 17 Tilleul magnum from Chevrot at the weekend
I thought it great before bottling but too oaky for my taste (young) the oak is still visible in the middle flavours today but significantly reduced. 5 more mags to go - I think slowly over the next 10 years or so...
(inshallah...)

 

[Mark Carrington]

Managed to obtained a table at Caves Madeleine (as always jam-packed) before they disappeared for their first congés of the summer. Two choices per three course menu, €25. Each course has a vegetarian friendly option. Lovely deft cooking always. The petit poi’s royale & quenelles brochet 'mains' a delight. Due to weather sat inside & thus sat at the table d'hôte, along with 4 other parties of three.
The extensive wine list is outstanding & reasonably-ish priced. Couldn't resist a first ever Roulot Aligoté & opted for the one with more age.

• 2015 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (21/06/2022)
  Pale; lively, vivacious bouquet; brisk acidity, bags of energy & presence; expansive finish. (90 pts.)

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Our adjacent diners kindly shared their J-C Ramonet Bourgogne Rouge '18 (better more enjoyable than a Denis Morter Br '16 I opened earlier this week). Embarrassingly, we could not reciprocate as K & her friend had polished of the Roulot - not my fault, I was driving.

 

[Mark Carrington]

I’d never heard of this. Wine-Searcher tells me it retails for over £2,000 including taxes. That would be going some for a Montrachet, never mind an Aligote!

Le Soufflot have Charles Lachaux LCdA 2020 for €300. Please form an orderly queue, though you won't find me at the front of it.

 

[Jasper Morris]

Mark, your generous neighbour in the flowery shirt runs the gentleman's outfitters in Beaune

 

[billnanson]

Interesting, Mark - nearby Bistro des Cocottes had the 15 Roulot on their list this weekend too - which I went for - €42 in this case...

 

[Dan Baillie]

Somewhat randomly found bottles of 2012 A&P Villaine Bouzeron Aligote in our clubhouse restaurant in florida for a very reasonable price. Fully mature with a pronounced honeyed element. Good depth and overall interesting but lacking in acidity to keep it refreshing enough in the florida evening humidity.

 

[Ian Hampsted]

The 2016 Comte Armand is joyous. We had it at Burgundy wimps after which I bought some.

 

[Mark Carrington]

The 2016 Comte Armand is joyous. We had it at Burgundy wimps after which I bought some.

View attachment 26798

BBR used to stock Armand Aligoté & I used to buy it. I would do so again, but never see it.

 

[Trevor Armstrong]

BBR used to stock Armand Aligoté & I used to buy it. I would do so again, but never see it.

Howard Ripley appear to have some of the 2020 left.

 

[Adam Bruntlett]

BBR used to stock Armand Aligoté & I used to buy it. I would do so again, but never see it.

Can confirm that we (BBR) do still get a good chunk, but it seems to sell out En Primeur these days! I think my colleagues on the Account Management side noticed I had been buying it quite regularly and sold it all.

 

[Josh Beauvoir]

My penultimate bottle of the Les Horees 2019 Aligote side by side vs the 2020.
I can’t believe how quickly I’ve drunk the 2019 but it’s just been irresistible. The 2019 feels rich and concentrated but still fresh and lively.
The 2020 feels like it needs more time than 2019 so I will leave my last ones for a while- I can’t wait to see how they evolve just hope I can resist! Wish I had a few more bottles

 

[Melvin Yeo]

My penultimate bottle of the Les Horees 2019 Aligote side by side vs the 2020.
I can’t believe how quickly I’ve drunk the 2019 but it’s just been irresistible. The 2019 feels rich and concentrated but still fresh and lively.
The 2020 feels like it needs more time than 2019 so I will leave my last ones for a while- I can’t wait to see how they evolve just hope I can resist! Wish I had a few more bottles
View attachment 26834

This is the best aligote that I have had before I think, but prices are creeping up unfortunately! Incredible density and energy.

 

[Mark Carrington]

• 2017 Thibault Liger-Belair Bourgogne-Aligoté Clos des Perrieres la Combe - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (22/12/2022)
  Lemon colour; consistent to previous bottle. Understated, wet sandstone; acidity kept in check, very well balanced,; finished stylishly. Fully ready, why wait? (89 pts.)

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