Domaine de Montille Beaune Les Aigrots Blanc Premier Cru 2023

A fruit-driven, ample and generous wine that is accessible in its youth. A very stylish wine, with a citrus/lemon peel aroma and hints of smoky reduction and oak spice. The texture is elegant and supple, suggesting early drinking, but there is enough freshness to ensure the wine ages gracefully. The grapes are from a half-hectare between Lafarge and Bouchard; they are among the first to be picked. One third of the fermentation is done in large, 500-600-litre casks and the balance in 228-litre casks. The combination has produced a beguiling wine.Barrel Sample: 93 The 2023 Beaune Les Aigrots 1er Cru Blanc has a pretty bouquet with apricot and touches of quince, floral in character, with subtle crushed stone notes and hints of lemon verbena. The palate is finely balanced with crisp acidity, well-integrated oak, fine weight and a persistent finish. This is a wonderful wine.Barrel Sample: 91-93 You need to pick Beaune Aigrots early to keep the tension, winemaker Brian Sieve tells me. The topsoil is constantly feeding the crop. He evidently called it right this year because it is nicely balanced with the stones and avoids softness. Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Oct 2024.Barrel Sample: 90-92