Bourgogne Aligoté "Sous-Châtelet" macéré AOC 2023

An Aligoté fermented on the skins that loses none of its tension: intense but not overbearing, at 12.0% ABV with dry élevage. Amber-colored, firm, clearly delineated.

The Sous-Châtelet site, below the Montagne du Châtelet, has always been dedicated to Aligoté. The soils are steep, north-east facing, and made up of fairly limestone-rich Oxfordian marl in Auxey. On 60 ares stand vines planted in the 1930s, with correspondingly rich genetics; the plot has belonged to the Trapets since 2019. It is part of the 1.8 hectares around Auxey-Duresses that came into the family through Justine, Louis's wife.

The brothers vinify the grapes from this vineyard in three different ways; for this bottling they fermented them on the skins. Vinification takes place in the family cellar in Gevrey-Chambertin, a former relais de poste, where concrete eggs stand alongside wooden barrels and demi-muids. The wine is aged unfined and bottled unfiltered. In the vineyard: ploughing instead of herbicide, biodynamic work, hand harvesting, yields limited early on.

Firm, dry and taut, with fine grip from time on the skins, but without oxidative heaviness. Alongside this, citrus fruit, some stone fruit, herbs, faintly medicinal notes and mineral character with a petrichor quality. On the nose: citrus peel, mealy apple with skin, hazelnut, candied orange peel, wax and a hint of iodine.

An all-rounder at the table. It pairs with grilled fish and seafood, offal-based starters, charcuterie, as well as goat cheese and Comté.

Pierre Trapet makes wine in Riquewihr, Alsace, Louis Trapet in Gevrey-Chambertin; the brothers met in the Côte de Beaune to found their joint estate. Their first vintage under their own label was 2020.