The 2022 Domaine de Villaine Bouzeron Aligoté is an expressive white Burgundy made entirely from Aligoté Doré, sourced from 17 different vineyard parcels in Bouzeron, in the northern Côte Chalonnaise. The domaine selects golden-skinned Aligoté from old vines for its moderate yields and aromatic finesse, with hillside marl-limestone soils contributing to the wine’s distinctive mineral character. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, then gently pressed as whole bunches before temperature-controlled fermentation in a combination of barrels, tanks and oak foudres. The result brings together ripe fruit, rounded texture and the lively, savoury freshness that makes this estate’s Bouzeron so compelling.
The 2022 offers ripe green apple, citrus peel, apricot and nectarine, complemented by linden blossom, white flowers and subtle herbal notes. The domaine describes a successful balance between fruit richness and mineral structure, with a gently bitter, saline finish that keeps the palate mouthwatering. Charles Curtis MW awarded it 93 Points for Decanter, highlighting its generous fruit and approachable character while noting that it is riper and less sharply acidic than the cooler 2021. Neal Martin awarded it 88 Points for Vinous, finding apple blossom, pineapple and orange zest, with a linear, taut finish. This is a textured Bouzeron with both generosity and definition.
