Delicate expression of a hillside terroir, the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2022 - Jean-Charles Fagot embodies the grace of a great Burgundy Chardonnay, precise in its outline and radiant in its expression. Intended for lovers of fine wines seeking a white that is at once pure, textured and nuanced, it combines treetop freshness, balance and depth without ever resorting to showiness. Made with a commitment to reasoned viticulture, with hand-harvesting and measured work in the vineyard, it embraces the slow rhythm of traditional ageing in large oak casks to refine the grain and marry the fruit's generosity with the wood's nobility. At the table, it delivers the assurance of a harmonious match, the promise of a suspended moment where flavours become clear and finesse prevails. A wine for conversation as well as gastronomy, revealing the French art of living.

Blend and winemaking

Made from 100% Chardonnay, this Hautes-Côtes de Beaune is vinified using a traditional, natural approach. The estate follows a reasoned viticulture, attentive to the vine's rhythms and the soils, with partial ploughing with draught horse to preserve the living balance of the terroir. Hand-harvesting allows for selective picking, ensuring the integrity of the fruit before ageing. In the cellar, vinification continues in large oak casks, where the wine rests for 12–14 months. This noble format encourages slow, intimate micro-oxygenation, integrating the oak structure without imposing it, polishing the juice as one would refine a precious material. The result is a satiny texture, a straight backbone and a clear reading of the grape in its Burgundian landscape. Here, technique gives way to style: that of a frank, pure Chardonnay, faithful to its origin.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Bright straw yellow with light reflections, of crystalline clarity. Light passes through the glass and suggests a wine with a fine texture, promising an elegant mouthfeel. The brightness of the colour already signals the freshness, clarity and precision found on the palate.
• Nose: Initial notes of gently toasted oak, quickly followed by white flowers, pear flesh and citrus zest. A chalky, almost airy breath adds relief and verticality. Accents of fresh hazelnut and almond appear without weight, in a harmony where the oak becomes a setting rather than an ostentatious ornament. The whole breathes purity and restraint.
• Palate: Precise attack, a dry and tense profile, then a caressing mid-palate driven by fine acidity that extends the structure. The material glides—generous yet controlled—with a pleasing persistence on white fruit, ripe citrus and a subtly grilled touch. Balance asserts itself clearly: a savory freshness, a satiny texture and a clean, upright finish that invites another glass.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 10 and 12°C in Burgundy-style white wine glasses with a medium bowl to embrace the floral delicacy while revealing the Chardonnay's depth. Open the bottle a few minutes before serving to allow the oaky nuances and mineral signature to blossom. Depending on your preference, you can cellar it a little longer to gain aromatic complexity, or enjoy it young to savour the purity of the fruit and fresh drive. A simple attention to service is enough to exalt the harmony of this cuvée.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: golden gougères, caramelised onion tartlets, grey shrimp with seaweed butter.
• Starters: scallop carpaccio, sea bream tartare, white asparagus with lemon mousseline.
• Main courses: free-range chicken with creamy sauce, sole meunière, comté and herb risotto.
• Cheeses: lightly aged comté, mild sheep's tomme, fresh herb goat cheeses.
• Vegetable & seafood: roasted root vegetables, leeks with vinaigrette, pearly cod with lemon butter.

Occasions

This Hautes-Côtes de Beaune marks moments of grace both in everyday life and at grand tables. Its inspired straightness and velvety texture make it an ideal companion to celebrate a way of life that is at once simple and demanding. It accompanies meaningful reunions, spring lunches in half-light, dinners where conversation matches taste. A wine designed to enhance moments without ever overwhelming them.

• For a refined lunch focused on the sea and seasonal vegetables.
• At a gastronomic dinner where precise pairings make the table sparkle.
• As a delicate gift for a lover of great Burgundian Chardonnays.

Product details

• Name: Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2022 - Jean-Charles Fagot
• Appellation: Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune AOC
• Type: White wine
• Vintage: 2022
• Grape variety: Chardonnay 100%
• Alcohol content: Not disclosed
• Ageing: 12–14 months in large oak casks
• Volume: Not disclosed
• Cellaring: Not disclosed
• Serving temperature: 10–12°C