Tasting of Bichot 2012 – Domaine du Chateau Gris and du Pavillon

On my September trip to Burgundy I had the priviledge to visit Albert Bichot to taste some 2012s from the different domaines and branches of the Bichot house.

The tasting include wines from Albert Bichot, Domaine de Pavillon, Domaine du Clos Frantin and Chateau Gris. The cask samples were collected in the different estates, and the tasting was held at the Bichot headquarter in Beaune.

Impressive quality – from Gevrey to Meursault

I have already covered the overall quality of the Bichot estates in another article where the tasting notes for Domaine du Clos Frantin also are published – you find the article here

Tasting notes for Domaine du Chateau Gris 2012

Chateau Gris is a interesting domaine in Nuits-Saint-Georges acquired by Bichot in 1978. I tasted two wines from the Chateau Gris – the red Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru “Chateau Gris” – made from a monopole vineyard located just south of the village – at the top of the slope. The Chateau Gris monopole is a part of the climate Les Crots – and the Chateau Gris estate itself is located in this vineyard.

The vineyard is steep and planted in terraces up towards the Chateau Gris estate, and at the top of the vineyard (classified as village) Bichot produce a very interesting white Nuits-Saint-Georges village.

Domaine du Chateau Gris, Nuits-Saint-Georges “Chateau Gris” 2012

The Nuits-Saint-Georges premier cru “Chateau Gris” has a interesting minerality. In the nose raspberries and red currant spiced with a nice slightly chalky minerality. On the palate quite rich and broad with a lovely energy and minerality from the limestone soil. It’s quite long and intense with a lovely cool airy style and an interesting minerality. Very interesting terroir – should not be overlooked.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good+ (89 – 91p) – Tasted 13/09/2013 cask sample.
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Domaine du Chateau Gris, Nuits-Saint-Georges – Les Terrasses Blanc 2012

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Terrasses Blanc is a very interesting wine. It’s made from the village part of the climate Les Crots – on terraces above the Chateau Gris estate. The soil is limestone and this gives the wine a quite unique style compared to other whites from Nuits-Saint-Georges. In the nose fresh notes of citrus, white orchard fruits and a chalky minerality. On the palate quite rich and broad with a lovely fruit and a intense but very harmonious minerality. The acidity is crisp and with a good energy. It’s very balanced with a good inner harmony, and without the slightly edgy minerality found in some whites from this appellation. Check this out!

(Drink from 2018) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 13/09/2013 cask sample.
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Tasting notes for Domaine du Pavillon 2012

The Cote de Beaune wines of Albert Bichot is made at Domaine du Pavillon in Pommard. They make both red and whites at Domaine du Pavillon – and as with Domaine du Clos Frantin – they make the estate wines, and the top end negociant wines from the surrounding appellations.

Domaine du Pavillon, Meursault 2012

The 2012 Meursault from Domaine du Pavillon is a lovely crisp wine – underlining the qualities of the 2012 vintage. It’s made from 5 plots located north of the village. In the nose almonds, citrus infused orchard fruits and a hint of oak. On the palate nice fresh and energetic citrus driven fruit – lovely acidity and freshness. A harmonious effort – with a nice drinkability but lacking a bit of definition compared to single lieu-dit village Meursaults.

(Drink from 2018) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 13/09/2013 cask sample.
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Domaine du Pavillon, Meursault Charmes 2012

The Meursault Charmes from Domaine du Pavillon is a lovely mineral driven wine. It’s made from three plots – one located in the Les Charmes-Dessous, and two in Les Charmes-Dessus (one of them located near the border to Les Genevrieres and Les Perrieres). The nose is quite expressive with notes of white peach, acacia flower – spiced with hazelnuts almonds and a citrus infused minerality. On the palate crisp and vibrant acidity a ample and rich fruit – beautifully focused by the fine minerality. A lovely focused and mineral driven Meursault Charmes.

(Drink from 2022) – Fine+ (91 – 93p) – Tasted 13/09/2013 cask sample.
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Domaine du Pavillon, Corton Clos des Marechaudes 2012

The Corton Clos des Marechaudes is a monopole and a clos located in the northern corner of the Corton vineyard just above the village of Ladoix-Serrigny. The clos includes two climates – the Corton Grand Cru, and the 1er cru Aloxe-Corton Clos des Marechaudes located in the bottom of the clos. The Corton is showing a lovely quite floral nose with red and dark berry fruit and a nice spicy minerality. On the palate good weight and midpalate fruit – quite suave – but still focused by the crisp acidity of the vintage. A quite lovely Corton in the making.

(Drink from 2025) – Fine (91 – 92p) – Tasted 13/09/2013 cask sample.
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More notes from the Albert Bichot visit

I had a great tasting at Bichot – thanks to Alberic Bichot for the warm welcome, and to Christian Ciamos, Philippe de Marcilly and last but not least winemaker Cyrille Jacquelin of Domaine du Clos Frantin for arranging such a fine tasting at such short notice.

Notes on the negociant wines from Albert Bichot will follow shortly.