2022 Domaine Chevalier, Ladoix Blanc 1er Cru `Les Gréchons` - Liberty

The Chevalier family have made wine from their 15 hectares of vines, in the village of Ladoix, since 1850. Today, fourth generation Claude Chevalier is at the helm, running the estate with his two talented daughters Julie and Chloé. They recently renamed themselves Domaine Chevalier & Filles (‘and daughters’), a nod to these strong women who are taking this dynamic domaine forward and putting Ladoix on the map.

Chloé is now responsible for the winemaking at Domaine Chevalier and produces exceptional, fruit-forward white wines with a lifted fragrance that typifies great Burgundy, at relatively modest prices. The oak is always nicely balanced, with a lively acidity to lift the nutty fruit on the finish.

The Ladoix Blanc `Bois de Mont` is an excellent introduction to this village, showcasing both the marked minerality and linear acidity imparted on the wines by the chalk-clay soils here and how perfectly Chloé manages to integrate the oak, 20% of which is new for this wine. The Ladoix Blanc 1er Cru `Les Gréchons` is a step up in intensity. This prime, south-facing site is located at the top of the Ladoix slope with 25-year-old vines and produces a wine with great vivacity. The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, from a parcel to the northwest of Ladoix on clay-limestone marls, is made with 40% new oak, which is perfectly integrated, creating a powerful, yet elegant expression.

Chloé also makes fantastic red wines. The Ladoix Rouge, a blend of eight parcels from across the village, with an average vine age of 45 years, has a real vibrancy to it, with bright red fruit and floral hints. The Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru ‘Les Valozières’ is one of the most highly regarded 1er Cru vineyard sites in Aloxe-Corton, located at the base of the Corton Grand Cru strip. This wine has concentrated notes of bramble and dark cherry fruit and is well-balanced with soft, ripe tannins and sweet spice flavours, which linger on the finish.

The south-easterly facing vineyards lie on chalky-clay soils. The domaine has less than one hectare of Premier Cru 'Les Gréchons', from which it produces particularly fine Chardonnay from 25 year old vines - the more southerly exposure of this Cru giving extra weight and flavour to the wine. The grapes were handpicked.

Following the challenges of 2021, the 2022 vintage in Burgundy was characterised by abundance and excellence. Despite heatwaves and the largest drought in Burgundy since 1976, 2022 emerged as a generous vintage, with excellent quality and yields far exceeding the three previous years. The growing season began with a cold winter, which delayed budburst and ensured most vineyards escaped April frosts unscathed. Optimal spring conditions followed and the vines grew quickly, with flowering taking place in mid-May. The summer was hot and dry, yet rain showers at the end of June replenished water reserves and allowed vines to thrive. Harvest began at the end of August and lasted until mid-September and the quality of the fruit harvested was excellent, with vibrant aromatics and balancing acidity.

The grapes were fermented with indigenous yeasts for around 6-12 weeks in French oak barrels, 30% of which were new, at controlled temperatures. The wine was then aged for 11 months before undergoing fining in barrel, blending in tank and a light filtration prior to bottling.

The Premier Cru 'Les Gréchons' is bright lemon-yellow in colour and has a complex, open nose of salted lemons, honeysuckle and hazelnuts. The palate is full, with taut structure and a lovely intense fruit character that lingers well on the lively, long finish. Top quality oak barrels have given nuances of honey and vanilla alongside the refreshing minerality that is typical of top Burgundy.