Domaines Albert Bichot

The venerable Domaines and Maison Albert Bichot - begun in 1831 - have been respected for producing a range of excellent Burgundy mainly from the Côte d'Or and Chablis. In the Côte d'Or, Albert Bichot is actually made up of small domaines, each operating and making wine largely independently. In the Côte de Beaune, the domaine wines come under the auspices of Domaine du Pavillon (13ha) in Pommard. In the Côte de Nuits, the wines are grown and made at Château Gris (3.5ha) and Domaine du Clos Frantin (7.3ha), both in Nuits-Saint-Georges. A larger domaine, Domaine Long-Depaquit, is a well-known source for fine Chablis. Finally, a few village wines from grapes purchased through long-term partnerships are vinified by Maison Albert Bichot in their central Beaune winery. Albéric Bichot, the patriarch of the estate, compares himself to the "conductor of an orchestra, proud to bring people and their talents together over a common project." The overarching philosophy is to respect the terroir and nature by practicing sustainable, organic-certified viticulture, based on observation, prevention and paying attention to the complex balances found in nature. In the cellar, minimal intervention is the rule during the vinification process, allowing the wines to be imbued with the terroir and the characteristics of the villages, vineyards and climats from which they hail.