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Domaine Cruchandeau 'Massale' Bouzeron 2022
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- TASTING NOTE: "Who said there's no value in Burgundy any more! White florals, lashings of citrus and pulpy, ripe orchard fruits with nutty undertones and a lick of minerality to finish. This very good Aligote. Actually, its just very good village level white Burgs full stop." David Gillman, HWS
- ABOUT THE WINE: Handpicked grapes from vines of average age 65+, including massale selection taken from Aubert De Villaine's estate in Bouzeron. Slow, natural ferment, around 20 days in stainless steel vats. Maturation is 80% in vats to retain Aligoté’s freshness and mineral qualities and 20% in new barrels to add complexity by giving it body and a very discreet toasty note.
- ABOUT THE PRODUCER: After an early career in hospitality that led him from France to London, and piqued his interest in wine, Julian Cruchandeau returned to Burgundy in 2000 pursuing a two-year course in oenology and viticulture while gaining practical experience at Domaine Seguin in Gevrey-Chambertin. By 2001, at the young age of 23, he assumed the role of estate manager and winemaker at Domaine France Lechenault in Bouzeron. In 2003, Julien established Domaine Cruchandeau, procuring his initial vines in the lesser-known Bouzeron appellation and invested in all the essential winemaking equipment. Having already conquered one underdog, and seeking to expand his land under vine, he moved to the Hautes Cotes de Nuits in 2007, settling in the village of Chaux. Perhaps controversial at the time, the move turned out to be a stroke of genius given growing conditions are increasingly favourable toward the higher slopes of Burgundy. Julien's winemaking philosophy centres on showcasing the potential of lesser-known appellations. He champions the under-appreciated, crafting wines that reflect the unique terroirs of 9 appellations including Nuits Saint Georges ‘Aux St Jacques’, Bouzeron, Hautes Cotes de Nuits, Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru ‘Hameau de Blagny’, Savigny les Beaune, Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 'Le Bas des Duresses' and Ladoix. These vines equate to a small domaine covering approximately 4.5 hectares, with Julien's artisanal approach and meticulous attention to detail shining through. His commitment to organic farming is the centrepiece of his approach, eschewing chemical fertilisers since 2011. Harvesting is carried out later in the season, and by hand to ensure only the finest grapes reach the winery. The wines are made as naturally as possible with indigenous yeasts fermentation, following traditional methods while applying a few modern winemaking techniques, including temperature control. Maturation is undergone for 8 to 18 months, depending on the vintage, in vats or old French oak barrels with some lees aging for whites and not too much batonnage. Reds are vinified with light infusion including foot crushing for 3 to 6 weeks and some 50% whole bunches to no whole bunches depending on the cuvee and the vintage. The wines are bottled after a light filtration, except for the Nuits-Saint-Georges, which remains unfiltered. A standout feature of Julien's winemaking journey is his dedication to the often-overlooked grape variety, Aligoté. His Bouzeron 'Massale' and Hautes Cotes de Nuits Aligote wines exemplify the potential of this grape, with the former gifted by the godfather of Burgundy himself, Aubert De Villaine in a joint effort to shine a light on Bouzeron. Today with the collective ‘Les Aligoteurs’ lead by famous vignerons such as Sylvain Pataille, Julien Cruchandeau and his friends are making Aligoté shine. Julien's wines, characterised by their aromatic, depth, purity, and pretty qualities, have positioned him as one of the region’s most exceptional winemakers. His ability to unlock the potential of lesser-known appellations highlights both his skill and unwavering commitment to Burgundy's rich winemaking heritage. For lovers of Burgundy, and the underdog, these are wines truly worth seeking out. Mosaique
- COUNTRY: France
- REGION: Burgundy
- SUB-REGION: Cote Chalonnaise
- VARIETAL: Aligote
- WINE STYLE: White Wine
- WINEMAKER: Julian Cruchandeau
- CLASSIFICATION: Minimal Intervention, Sustainable Farming, Vegan
- CLOSURE: Cork
- ABV%: 12%
- SIZE: 750ml
