2016 Chassagne-Montrachet, Blanchots Dessus, 1er Cru, Domaine Jean-Claude Bachelet, Burgundy

Just one second-fill barrel was made. The Bachelets’ 1927-planted vines are in a very special site, just below Le Montrachet, and the result is a Grand Cru wine in all but name. The nose displays incredible complexity, as struck-match notes intertwine with toasty oak and ripe stone fruit. A powerful wine, with wonderful, layered complexity and an almost endless, chewy finish. Drink 2022-2032.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

With the move to superb new cellars in the hamlet of Gamay, next to St Aubin, Benoît and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet have taken over from their father Jean-Claude, though he may still be seen with his wartime vintage truck ferrying the grapes at harvest time. The basic principles of a long slow barrelageing for almost two years remain in force, while the state-of-the-art winery has improved consistency. In the vineyard, the brothers have been experimenting with biodynamic viticulture and have plans to extend this across their holdings which are in St Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. With vineyards mostly located in St Aubin and Chassagne-Montrachet, the Bachelet brothers – Benoît and Jean-Baptiste – had a torrid time in 2016 thanks to the frost, losing 75 percent of their crop. Despite the terrible spring weather and resultant disease pressure, they stuck to their biodynamic methods. The crop was so small, in fact, that they had to fill 44 unused barrels with water and sulphur dioxide to keep them fresh until they get another decent crop. There is no Chatenière in 2016 and many of the other cuvées are very small indeed.