The 2023 Marc-Antonin Blain Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is an extraordinarily rare white Burgundy from one of the smallest Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune. Produced from 100% Chardonnay, Marc-Antonin Blain’s tiny holdings comprise three parcels totalling only around 0.2 hectares, with vines averaging approximately 60 years old and the oldest exceeding 100 years. Production is exceptionally limited, making this one of the domaine’s most coveted wines. The 2023 opens with aromas of ripe white peach, citrus and orchard fruit, layered with almond, subtle exotic notes and fine mineral complexity.
On the palate, it is powerful, creamy and deeply concentrated, with generous ripe fruit supported by vibrant acidity and impressive underlying tension. The 2023 was raised without new oak, allowing the old-vine Chardonnay and Grand Cru terroir to remain particularly clear and harmonious. Richness and breadth build through the palate while a savoury, mineral character provides definition, leading to a long, energetic and beautifully balanced finish.
Ben's Recommendation:
At Wine More Cellars, this is an exceptional choice for serious white Burgundy collectors. Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet is already one of Burgundy’s rarest Grand Crus, and Marc-Antonin Blain’s tiny old-vine holdings make production extremely limited. The combination of vines averaging around 60 years of age, some exceeding a century, and the beautifully concentrated 2023 vintage gives this wine remarkable pedigree and long-term potential. While fascinating in its youth, this is a bottle that deserves time in the cellar. Enjoy from around 2028 onwards or cellar comfortably into the 2040s and beyond. Pair with lobster, turbot, scallops, roast Bresse chicken, morels, truffle dishes or aged Comté.
