WHAT

Chardonnay

WHEN

2022

WHERE

Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils was founded in 1920 by Arsène and Flavie Amiot — and Flavie's name is no coincidence. The domaine holds the distinction of being the first in Chassagne-Montrachet to bottle its wines in-house and sell directly, rather than selling in bulk to négociants. That independence and attention to terroir has defined the estate ever since. It is now in the hands of the 4th and 5th generations: Thierry and Fabrice Amiot, and Thierry's daughter Héloïse. The estate covers 29 appellations including a parcel in Le Montrachet Grand Cru — the greatest white wine vineyard in the world. The Vieilles Vignes comes from approximately 1.5 hectares spread across a dozen parcels at the base of the slope in Chassagne-Montrachet village, planted with 50-year-old Chardonnay vines on clay-limestone soils.

Despite being the domaine's village-level bottling, 50-year-old vines on Chassagne's clay-limestone deliver something far from basic. Fermented in French oak barriques and aged approximately 18 months, this wine shows the concentration and structure that only old vine fruit can provide. Richly aromatic with pear, apple, peach, yellow plum, honey, and almond, underpinned by the distinctive stony, saline minerality that makes Chassagne-Montrachet one of Burgundy's most compelling white wine appellations. Lovely balance, fresh acidity, long finish. Open now or cellar for 5-8 more years.