Albert Bichot

History of Maison Albert Bichot

The history of the Bichot family dates back to 1214, during the time of the Crusades, when the first traces of the name appear. In 1350, the family settled permanently in Burgundy at Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, adopting the doe as their family coat of arms, an emblem that still adorns the labels of every bottle today. This heraldic doe, a symbol of nobility and elegance, has endured through the centuries without ever faltering.

The viticultural adventure truly began in 1831 when Bernard Bichot founded a négociant house in Monthélie, between Meursault and Volnay, at the heart of the Côte de Beaune. The house quickly experienced remarkable growth, even becoming the official supplier to the Court of Sweden, a testament to the excellence of its wines. In 1912, Albert Bichot, grandson of the founder, made a major strategic decision by permanently establishing the house at the heart of Beaune, a fortified city with a prestigious viticultural heritage.

The 20th century marked the international expansion of the house. Albert Bichot, born in 1900, contributed to the growth of the family business by selling Burgundy wines to all corners of the world, notably in the United States, Asia and Oceania. His four sons perpetuated this heritage by undertaking major works: construction of new cellars, a modern aging cellar and a state-of-the-art bottling center.

Since 1996, Albéric Bichot, representing the sixth generation, has led the house with a vision resolutely oriented toward the future. He skillfully orchestrates the progressive transition to organic farming, the expansion into new markets, while preserving the authenticity of Burgundy wines. Under his leadership, the house has been enriched with prestigious new estates and has committed itself as a Grand Founding Patron of the Cité des Climats et des Vins de Bourgogne.

Terroirs and Vines of Maison Albert Bichot

Albert Bichot's viticultural heritage comprises six exceptional estates spread from north to south across Burgundy, covering more than 100 hectares, including 39 hectares of Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. Each estate has its own identity while sharing the common values of quality and respect for the terroir.

The Domaine Long-Depaquit in Chablis is the house's flagship Chablis estate. This 65-hectare vineyard, cultivated using a sustainable approach, produces several Premier Cru cuvées and six Grands Crus. Its origins date back to 1114 when monks from Cîteaux founded a monastery flanked by vines. The new winery, operational since 2014, bears witness to the constant commitment to excellence and modernity.

The Domaine du Clos Frantin in Nuits-Saint-Georges, an 18th-century property, extends over 7.3 hectares at the heart of the Côte de Nuits. Certified in organic farming since 2012, this estate brings together nearly four hectares of Grands and Premiers Crus on the greatest Pinot Noir terroirs in the world: Échezeaux, Grands-Échezeaux, Clos-de-Vougeot, Richebourg and the prestigious Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Malconsorts.

Château-Gris in Nuits-Saint-Georges has the rare distinction in Burgundy of possessing vines cultivated on terraces over 3.5 hectares. This estate offers wines of great finesse from a unique terroir.

The Domaine du Pavillon in Pommard, built around an impressive 18th-century manor house, oversees 15 hectares of vines. The estate holds the superb Pommard Clos des Ursulines monopole, which extends over four hectares, as well as plots in Grands Crus such as the Corton Grand Cru Clos des Maréchaudes and the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru.

The Domaine Adélie in Mercurey, acquired in 2013 and named in homage to Albéric Bichot's daughter born in 2003, encompasses nearly eight hectares producing high-quality red and white wines in the Côte Chalonnaise.

The domaine de Rochegrès in Moulin-à-Vent represents Albert Bichot's foray into Beaujolais. Acquired in 2014, this 5.2-hectare estate is made up of very old vines aged between 80 and 100 years, planted on poor, very pure pink granite soil at the heart of the Rochegrès climat.

Winemaking at Maison Albert Bichot

Albert Bichot's winemaking philosophy is rooted in full respect for the expression of terroirs. The house favors sustainable viticulture with an emphasis on observation and prevention, with responsible practices such as reasoned plowing and organic fertilization. The aim is to preserve the richness of Burgundy's soils and the natural balances.

In the vineyard, work begins with severe pruning to limit yields and obtain the best possible grape quality. Harvesting is done by hand in the Grands Crus and Premiers Crus, ensuring optimal selection. Chemical fertilizers and herbicides have been replaced by compost, and the soils are plowed to encourage microbial life.

In the cellars of each estate, dedicated teams practice traditional, deliberately non-interventionist winemaking. In Nuits-Saint-Georges, gravity helps preserve the full quality of the grapes by handling them gently from the moment they arrive at the winery. This minimalist approach aims to allow the quintessence of each plot to express itself.

Aging takes place primarily in oak barrels for 12 to 18 months for red wines intended for cellaring, with a variable percentage of new barrels depending on the cuvée. In Chablis, aging often favors stainless steel tanks to preserve the characteristic mineral purity, although certain Premiers Crus and Grands Crus benefit from a period in wood to gain in complexity.

The Cuvées of Maison Albert Bichot

The Grand Crus of Chablis

The Chablis Grand Cru Moutonne Monopole, formerly the property of the monks of Pontigny Abbey, is a 2.35-hectare plot nestled in a natural amphitheater at the heart of the Grands Crus. Located 95% on Vaudésir and 5% on Les Preuses, this exceptional plot benefits from an ideal south/south-east exposure and a steep slope of nearly 40% that protects the vines from northerly winds. The nose evokes fleshy fruits such as peach and nectarine, accompanied by subtle citrus notes and floral hints of jasmine and violet. On the palate, the wine reveals itself to be ample and generous, marked by the marly minerality characteristic of this micro-terroir.

The estate also produces five other Grands Crus of Chablis: Les Vaudésirs, Les Clos (considered "a Grand Cru among Grand Crus"), Les Blanchots, Les Preuses and Bougros. Each one faithfully expresses the subtle nuances of its Kimmeridgian terroir, that unique soil composed of calcareous clay and fossils of ancient oysters.

The Grand Crus of the Côte de Nuits

The Domaine du Clos Frantin brings together an exceptional collection of Grands Crus among the most prestigious in Burgundy. The Richebourg, the Clos-de-Vougeot, the Échezeaux and Grands-Échezeaux represent the pinnacle of Burgundian Pinot Noir. These wines are characterized by their depth, their aromatic complexity combining dark fruits, spices, floral notes and hints of undergrowth, as well as their noble tannic structure allowing for extended aging.

The Grand Crus of the Côte de Beaune

The Corton Grand Cru Clos des Maréchaudes Monopole is the emblematic cru of the Domaine du Pavillon. With only 0.54 hectares of vines, it is the only cru in the Côte de Beaune classified as both a Premier and a Grand Cru. This Pinot Noir wine develops remarkable power tempered by refined elegance.

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, planted over 1.2 hectares, represents the excellence of Chardonnay in the Côte de Beaune. This majestic white wine reveals exceptional aromatic richness combining white-fleshed fruits, buttery notes and deep minerality.

The Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru completes this prestigious palette with its sumptuous texture and incomparable aromatic complexity.