Bâtard-Montrachet 2011, Jean-Noel Gagnard


Always a pleasure to sample a good glass of "Bâtard" and this 2011 was on good form. Located below "Le Montrachet" on the Côte I often find that these wines have the fat of Le Montrachet without quite so much refinement due to the heavier soil. By contrast Chevalier-Montrachet is higher up the slope and offers more refinement and less fruit concentration. Interesting that Chevalier commands a higher price than Bâtard does. Tasted at the Justerini & Brooks annual Burgundy tasting this 2011 Bâtard-Montrachet urges itself out of the glass in the form of multiple layers of citrus and tree (pear, cherry) fruit. Hard to distinguish the different elements. The aromatic door is only just ajar. Elegant and suave on the palate this is a feminine "Bâtard" which is long, really... long, very lovely and lingers on the palate. The wine has already integrated the structure and flavours of the 80% new oak barrels during its 18 month fermentation on the lees. Scores 22-25 / 30 for a Bâtard-Montrachet grand cru.

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