Les Burnins, Montagny 1er Cru | Domaine Stéphane Aladame | Chardonnay | Montagny | France

Stéphane Aladame’s organic estate in Montagny is one of the stars of the Côte Chalonnaise. Stéphane began from scratch in 1992, at the age of 18 and has since earned an outstanding reputation thanks to his commitment, almost exclusively, to Premier Cru vineyards. Today, his bottles grace the tables of Michelin-starred restaurants throughout France and abroad.
Stéphane’s eight hectares are all farmed organically and harvested by hand, unlike the majority of Montagny’s vineyards which are dominated by cooperatives. Stéphane vinifies each vineyard separately in a small cellar under his house. The wines all display a serious, crystalline precision and unmistakeable vibrancy, which Stéphane attributes to the high limestone content and shallow soils in Montagny; in effect much closer in profile to Chablis than to the Côte d’Or.
Pale yellow in colour, the Montagny 1er Cru ‘Les Burnins’ reveals an extremely concentrated and floral nose, with hints of honeysuckle, citrus blossom and ripe apples. The pure and elegant palate is balanced by a crisp acidity and a lovely minerality on the mid-palate.