Taupenot-Merme Bourgogne Aligoté 2022
94 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team
RECOMMENDED: Meghan Foley, Kermit-Lynch
12.5% Abv 100% Aligoté
Vineyard, 1 ha, Planted in 1950, 1986
Organic, Soil: Clay, Limestone
"From the highly regarded Domaine Taupenot-Merme, this Aligoté demonstrates just how refined and terroir-driven the variety can be in the right hands. The nose is lifted and precise, with aromas of lemon zest, white peach, orchard blossom, and a delicate saline edge. On the palate, there is impressive texture and depth for Aligoté – layers of citrus and stone fruit are supported by chalky minerality and a fine-boned acidity that drives exceptional length. The balance between freshness and subtle weight makes this wine both intellectually engaging and effortlessly drinkable. A serious Burgundian Aligoté that speaks of place and precision – ideal alongside oysters, sashimi, or simply enjoyed as an elegant aperitif. We love it!"
- Wine Direct Tasting Team
“This stellar terroir—Romain’s Aligoté parcels are in Morey-Saint-Denis and Auxey-Duresses— in combination with his gentle hand in the cellar result in an approachable, elegant, and complex wine that would give many “white Burgundies”a run for their money. The 2022 Aligoté has a bouquet of orchard blossoms and buttery brioche opens to lemon curd and almond notes on the palate, finishing with a pleasant creaminess backed by chiseled acidity.”
— Recommended, Meghan Foley, Kermit-Lynch
Taupenot-Merme Bourgogne Aligoté is a classic, fresh Aligote produced at the wonderful domaine where sister and brother Virginie and Romain own 1.3Ha of vines with an average age of 54 years across four parcels, two in Auxey-Duresses and two in Morey-Saint-Denis.
Aligoté has long been dismissed as Burgundy’s other white grape. No one thinks “Aligoté” when they hear “white Burgundy,” and that’s no coincidence. In 1937, the powers that be in France restricted Aligoté grown in the Côte d’Or to the generic Bourgogne Aligoté appellation, leaving more prestigious village designations for the region’s golden child, Chardonnay, and its red counterpart, Pinot Noir. As a result, Burgundian vignerons largely turned away from Aligoté, planting it solely in lesser vineyard sites with an emphasis on quantity over quality. That’s all started to change in recent years, however, as open-minded vignerons such as Romain Taupenot are breathing new life into this underdog grape variety.
12.5% Abv