Jean-Claude Bachelet "Derrière la Tour" Saint-Aubin, Burgundy, France 2021

FROM BOWLER WINE:

THE WINE: From a .91 hectare parcel situated “behind the church tower” in Gamay, planted with 40 year-old vines with south/southwest exposure. 100% de-stemmed. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel. 10% new oak. Aged 2 years in barrel.

THE PRODUCER: Jean-Baptiste (first vintage 2005) and Benoît Bachelet (first vintage 2000) are now the primary winemakers at the family domaine, which has been making wine since the early 17th century. The domaine is based in the village of Gamay, a hamlet of Saint-Aubin, and they have ten hectares, producing half red and half white. Almost half of the vineyards are in Chassagne-Montrachet, another 40% of the vineyards are in Saint-Aubin, and the remaining 13% of their holdings are in Puligny-Montrachet. All of the vineyards are estate-owned, and they started conversion to biodynamic production in 2012. In 2016, all ten hectares were managed following biodynamic principles. Although it means a lot more work in the vineyards, the brothers find that the wines have more precision and you get a stronger sense of terroir.

Vinification is natural with indigenous yeasts and slow fermentations. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels on fine lees. This means that the wines have two winters in the cellar, which contributes to the finesse, depth and structure of the wine, necessary for its aging capacity