Albert Bichot : Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru Monopole Château Gris 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Monopole Château Gris 2023 by Albert Bichot

Tasting

Colour

The wine has a brilliant ruby colour with purple highlights and remarkable intensity.

Nose

The bouquet is extremely elegant, combining aromas of red and black fruits such as raspberry, strawberry and blackcurrant. Subtle floral notes of rose, violet and peony accompany this fruity expression, lifted by a delicate hint of perfectly integrated oak.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is smooth and elegant, with rich, fleshy fruit flavours supported by a sophisticated tannic structure. The limestone minerality of the terroir comes through as a light chalkiness, adding to the wine's length and vibrancy. The finish stands out for its pleasant freshness, which creates a dynamic harmony with the initial richness of the fruit.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Monopole Château Gris 2023 is an ideal match for roasted or braised meats such as beef, lamb, duck and game. It pairs particularly well with beef fillet and a confit shallot sauce. Medium- to well-aged cheeses and mushroom-based dishes also make excellent pairings.

Serving and Cellaring

To enjoy the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Monopole Château Gris 2023 at its best, serve it at a temperature of 16–17°C. This wine has an ageing potential of 5 to 7 years or more, allowing it to evolve and develop complex tertiary notes.

A Nuits-Saint-Georges Monopole Imbued with Elegance and Minerality

The Estate

Founded in 1831 by Bernard Bichot in Monthélie, the House of Albert Bichot is one of Burgundy's oldest winemaking dynasties, with documented family roots dating back to 1214. Now headed by Albéric Bichot, the sixth generation of the family, the House owns more than 107 hectares of vineyards spread across six exceptional estates in the most prestigious Burgundy appellations. Since 1996, Albéric Bichot has led a remarkable drive for quality, favouring quality over quantity and gradually converting the vineyards to certified organic farming. In 2024, the House received the prestigious Trophée de Constance at the International Wine Challenge, in recognition of its consistent excellence.

The Vineyard

Château-Gris is a prestigious monopole located in Nuits-Saint-Georges in the Côte de Nuits, owned by Albert Bichot since 1978. The vines are planted on terraces clinging to the hillside at altitudes ranging from 260 to 330 metres. The soils are clay-limestone, a combination that gives the terroir the ability to produce structured, expressive wines. The lower-lying plots around the château are planted exclusively with Pinot Noir and produce this classified Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru. The vineyard is farmed according to certified organic principles, notably with horses used to work the soil on the steep terraces.

The Vintage

The 2023 vintage in Burgundy was one of the hottest years on record in the region's meteorological history. After a dry winter, with a rainfall deficit of more than 80% in February, spring proved slightly wetter and milder. From June onwards, conditions gave way to a succession of sunny days with almost no rainfall right up to the harvest. Flowering took place in optimal conditions at the end of May for Chardonnay and in early June for Pinot Noir. August brought particularly complex weather, alternating between wet spells and bouts of extreme heat, with temperatures reaching or exceeding 40°C in late August and early September. The harvest produced wines prized for their ripe fruit and immediate approachability.

Winemaking and Ageing

The production of the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Monopole Château Gris 2023 begins with an entirely manual harvest, followed by meticulous sorting of the grapes. Alcoholic fermentation with maceration takes place in temperature-controlled wooden vats over a period of 18 to 21 days. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 16 to 17 months, with 35 to 40% new barrels, the remainder being one- or two-year-old casks. This moderate proportion of new oak avoids an excess of vanilla aromas that could mask the expression of the fruit and terroir.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir