Domaine Chevrot et Fils Aligoté “Tilleul” 2017

Domaine Chevrot Maranges, Côtes de Beaune, France Maranges is located at the southern-most part of the Côte d’Or. These are “honest, sturdy and rustic” wines according to wine writer, Clive Coates. The Chevrot family has been making wine in Maranges since 1830. Domaine Chevrot as it stands today was established in 1936 by the current winemakers’ grandparents. They purchased vines and a cellar that dates back to 1798. Their son Fernand and his wife Catherine started bottling and selling wines from the domaine in the 1970s. Now Pablo and Vincent, the third generation, are now in charge and have made two innovations: since 2008 the vineyards have been in converted to organic viticulture, and the new winery to be built in 2020. The vines are older, for the most part, with an average age of 30 years. The oldest plots, planted by the grandfather, are up to 75 years-old. They are using organic compost in the vineyards, working with a horse and manuel plow, and a minimum of copper and sulfur treatments as needed to treat odium and mildew. Wines of Chevrot have always been made in a traditional style. The lower end cuvées are destemmed and some whole clusters are kept on the 1er Cru cuvées. Only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation.. After fermentation, the wines are put into barrels for ageing. Pablo and Vincent assess the amount of new oak applied to each cuvée, meeting the idiosyncrasies of each batch. Like most burgundian vignerons, their goal is to produce wines that express their terroir and express the best qualities of the vintage.

Variety: 100% Aligote Area: 0.35 ha
Average age of vine: 50 years

Its cuvee ”Tilleul” is exclusive to the domain, from a parcel of aligoté situated just opposite the property. This parcel receives treatment specific to it: foliage is raised to increase maturity, soils are worked by horse and ageing is for15 months in Burgundy oak barrels. For the 2015, the nose is with aromas of apple and pear, tinged with fresh nuts and saffron. On the palate, the wine surprises by its power and straightness, with its silky and persistent central thread of lemon, gooseberry and ginger. The grape variety recalls its minerality in a lively but as-ripe-as-you-like finish. ”Tilleul” surpasses itself in general with oriental cuisines, but this year you can attempt to duel with sashimis or sushis.