A clear expression of white Burgundy, the Bourgogne Aligoté 2021 from Olivier Leflaive pays tribute to the discreet art of classicism. In the aristocratic shadow of Puligny-Montrachet and Corpeau, this refined wine offers a bright, luminous reading of the Aligoté grape, between vivid lemon, subtle yellow fruit and a minerality that evokes sun-warmed stone. The 2021 vintage, marked by spring frosts and demanding weather through to the harvest on 20 September, has shaped juices of exemplary straightness. Here, freshness is a melodic line, texture a buttery whisper, and the finish a lemon-kissed bow. For the lover of precision as for the epicure seeking a pure white, this cuvée offers a suspended moment, vibrant with accuracy and poise.

Blend and winemaking

Made from 100% Aligoté, this Bourgogne Aligoté results from a pressing combining 30% crushed grapes and 70% whole berries, to orchestrate aromatic delicacy and a frank fruit expression. After a 24-hour static settling, the musts are guided precisely towards a nuanced élevage. The cuvée rests for 10 months, including 4 months in stainless-steel tank to preserve energy and brightness, then 6 months in oak barrels to refine the texture, round the edges and cloak the wine with a very measured buttery veil. The plots in Puligny-Montrachet and Corpeau provide a straight, saline thread, while the sustainable viticulture ensures a faithful reading of the soils. The overall aim is balance, purity and that discreet grace which marks great houses.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Clear and bright, rimmed with straw highlights, it announces the freshness and uprightness of a finely chiselled white.
• Nose: Precise bouquet of fresh lemon and crunchy yellow fruit, supported by a delicate buttery note, hints of cut hay and a crisp, almost chalky mineral character.
• Palate: Tense, frank attack, expressive mid-palate, slender texture, long lemony saline finish that invites the next sip.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve between 10 and 12°C in tall white wine glasses to highlight the citrus freshness and delicate floral notes. A few minutes of breathing helps unify the bouquet and reveal, without showiness, the dialogue between fruit and élevage. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place to preserve aromatic integrity and textural brightness. This cuvée is best appreciated young when the lemon vibrates and the minerality sparkles, but it also gains harmony during service.

Food pairings

• Aperitif: ideal to kick off a meal, its liveliness awakens the palate and elevates gougères or roasted almonds.
• Seafood: a natural match with oysters, shellfish and crustaceans, where salinity answers the wine's tension.
• Jambon persillé: a Burgundian classic, gently lifted by the cuvée’s crisp acidity and subtle buttery touch.
• Escargots: the lemony freshness lightens the garlic butter and brightens the parsley sauce.
• Fromage blanc: a superb counterpoint, the minerality cuts through the creaminess and highlights the simple, savory quality of the cheese.

Occasions

The Bourgogne Aligoté 2021 from Olivier Leflaive is the perfect companion for moments where gastronomy meets grace. Its straight thread and lemony finish make it a white suited to animated conversation, able to accompany restrained dishes as well as more demanding recipes. It charms by its poise, sparks discussion through its precision, and recalls with every sip the fine idea of balance.

• For a refined aperitif that leads into an iodised, luminous table.
• At a seasonal dinner focused on seafood and Burgundian classics.
• As an elegant gift for a lover of fine wines who values precision and purity.

Details

• Name: Bourgogne Aligoté 2021 - Olivier Leflaive - Bourgogne Aligoté AOC
• Appellation: Bourgogne Aligoté AOC
• Type: Dry white wine
• Vintage: 2021
• Grape variety: Aligoté (100%)
• Alcohol: 12% vol.
• Winemaking: 30% crushed grapes, 70% whole berries, 24 h of static settling
• Aging: 10 months, including 4 months in stainless-steel tank and 6 months in oak barrels
• Parcels origin: Puligny-Montrachet and Corpeau
• Cultivation method: sustainable viticulture
• Serving temperature: 10–12°C