Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet
Grand Cru 2023
The Essence of a Legend...there are places in Burgundy where Chardonnay reaches a state of grace.
Origin
The smallest of the white Grands Crus of the Côte de Beaune, covering just 1.57 hectares on the upper slopes of Chassagne-Montrachet. At an altitude of 240m, it lies a little lower than its neighbors Chevalier-Montrachet and Montrachet. The soils of this well-exposed parcel are composed of scree and are relatively well drained. “Criots” comes from “craie”, and the subsoil is composed of Bathonian limestone, sometimes mixed with clay.
Legend has it that at the time of the Crusades, there was a castle on the Montrachet hill. The lord sent his only son to the Holy Land to fight. The man had a young mistress whom he met at the “Clos de la Pucelle”. She had a child. The son who went on the Crusade was named Chevalier-Montrachet, and the illegitimate child, Bâtard-Montrachet. On hearing of Chevalier Montrachet's death in the Holy Land, the lord took his illegitimate son as his successor, who was acclaimed: "Welcome to Bâtard Montrachet! Legend has it that the châtelain, disturbed by his young son's crying, cried out in Burgundian dialect “a crio (il crie) l'Bâtard”, giving rise to the name Criots-Bâtard. Thus were born the legendary names of several Puligny-Montrachet Grands Crus, today symbols of the excellence of Burgundy's white wines.
Viticulture
Grape variety: chardonnay
Soils: brown clay-limestone
Orientation: South/East
Surface area under vine: 0.05 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 45 hL/ha
Average age of the vine: about fifty years with permanent grassing.
Vinification
Harvest date: 13 September 2023.
The grapes were handpicked.
At the winery: the whole bunches of grapes were gently pressed for 2½ hours. The temperature of the must was brought down to 12°C then was immediately transferred to barrels with no settling to preserve a maximum of lees.
Ageing
Maturation: aged for 18 months in oak barrels, with no racking or stirring to bring out all of this wine’s minerality.
Barrels: French oak barrels that had been toasted at low temperatures for a long time to impart a subtle, delicate touch of oak were used.
Bottling
Bottling: by gravity on March 12, 2025, wine fined with bentonite, very light lenticular filtration.
Number of bottles: 303.
Vintage
Fruity and generous
The 2023 vintage experienced unpredictable weather conditions, making work in the vineyards essential for grape quality. Harvesting began in early September under intense heat with the Chardonnays to avoid over-ripening, followed by the reds. The whites will spend two winters in the cellar, while the Pinot Noirs will have undergone short ageing to preserve the fruity aromas. A vintage that brings out the best in each terroir, offering wines that are bright and delicious.
Ageing potential: 10 years and more.
Tasting notes
The golden color is seductive and brilliant. The nose reveals harmonious aromatic complexity, blending candied exotic fruits - passion fruit, mango, papaya - with fresh citrus touches. On the palate, the generous fullness extends this richness with gourmet flavors, enhanced by delicate notes of butter and brioche. A structured, expressive wine, sustained by a long, intensely fruity finish.
