Bourgogne Côte d'Or "La Monatine" Sans Sulfite Ajouté AOC 2022 1500ml Magnum

A Chardonnay of unadorned clarity: lemon zest, green apple and white blossom lead, followed by fresh butter and a cool spiciness. The absence of added sulphur is no affectation here — it's plainly there in the glass.

The estate is based in Meursault, at the heart of the Côte de Beaune. Pierre-Henri Rougeot farms 12.6 hectares with plots in Meursault, Volnay and Pommard; they were expanded in the 1960s by his grandfather Hubert, who served as mayor of Meursault for 25 years. Work in the vineyard is done entirely by hand, with only minimal use of tractors. The estate has been certified organic since 2020, and Demeter conversion has been underway since 2021, prompted by recurring premox issues in certain plots.

Chardonnay, spontaneously fermented with the estate's own yeasts. Throughout ageing, Pierre-Henri Rougeot adds no sulphur whatsoever — the Sans Sulfite Ajouté on the label is to be taken literally. The wine matures in 228-litre Burgundy barrels with a low proportion of new oak, without bâtonnage, without filtration, without fining. The cellars used date back to the 18th century and were originally built for the Hospices de Beaune. 13.0% ABV.

Dry and straightforward, with crisp acidity and juicy fruit. The finish stays saline and long, with the oak never stepping into the foreground.

Grilled sole with butter-lemon sauce, roast chicken with thyme or chanterelle risotto. Young Comté and baguette with salted butter also work well.

In 2016, Pierre-Henri Rougeot ended his father Marc's supermarket supply business and redirected the estate toward quality wines. The diagonally striped labels mark his cuvées aged without added sulphur. This wine comes in a 1500 ml magnum.