2020 Bourgogne Aligoté, Jérôme Patriarche

Jérôme Patriarche

Based in Meursault, a village in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, Jérôme Patriarche produces white wines from Chardonnay grapes, mainly from the appellations of Meursault and Bourgogne Côte d’Or. He also makes a small amount of red wine from Pinot Noir grapes.

Jérôme Patriarche is known for his meticulous and organic approach to viticulture and vinification, respecting the terroir and the environment. He works with low yields, manual harvesting, natural yeasts, and minimal intervention in the cellar. His wines are aged in oak barrels, with moderate use of new wood, resulting in expressive, elegant, and balanced wines reflecting the character of each vineyard.

Some of Jérôme Patriarche's most acclaimed wines are:

Meursault Les Vireuils: A single-vineyard wine from a plot located above the village of Meursault, with a southeast exposure and limestone soil. This wine has a floral and fruity nose with hints of citrus, honey, and almond. The palate is fresh, mineral, and complex, with a long and creamy finish.

Meursault Les Charmes Dessus Premier Cru: A Premier Cru wine from a parcel situated in the heart of the Charmes vineyard, with a southwest exposure and clay-limestone soil. This wine has a rich and intense nose, with aromas of ripe pear, peach, vanilla, and toast. The palate is full-bodied, round, and powerful, with great depth and length.

Bourgogne Aligoté

Bourgogne Aligoté is a regional Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) for white wines produced in Burgundy from the Aligoté variety of grape, which dates from 1937.

Aligoté grapes have played a prominent role in white Burgundy production since the 1600s, but are now being phased out in favour of the more popular and profitable Chardonnay grape: in 2007 only 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of Aligoté were grown compared to the 12,800 hectares (32,000 acres) of Chardonnay. The AOC regulations permit up to 15% Chardonnay to be blended with the Aligoté.

Bourgogne Aligoté is usually regarded as a somewhat more acidic wine, best enjoyed in its youth due to its lighter nature. It is also a primary component in the production of the popular French cocktail kir, by combining the Aligoté wine with the blackcurrant liqueur crème de cassis.

Aligoté has one appellation exclusive to its grape: Bouzeron, in the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy, where 53 hectares are dedicated to this unique Aligoté based wine.

Aligoté

A grape that was first recorded in Burgundy in the 18th century and is still planted almost exclusively there, though there are limited plantings in Bulgaria, Moldavia and even California. It is a moderate-yielding grape that tends to perform best on south-east facing slopes and in warm, dry years.

For your Burgundian vigneron, Aligoté is not nearly as profitable to grow as Chardonnay - consequently it tends to be relegated to lower quality vineyards. In the wrong hands and in the wrong sites it can produce thin, raspingly acidic wines that are remarkably undistinguished. However the best growers produce balanced examples with nutty and citrus hints which are most appealing to drink. The best Aligoté wines traditionally come from Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise. Along with blackcurrant liqueur, it is the key ingredient of Kir.