Maison Harbour: Bourgogne Aligote - Les Tilles 2023

The Future of Burgundy

For a long time, Aligoté was considered the Cinderella among the white varieties of Burgundy – mostly in the shadow of its big brother Chardonnay, often downgraded to a basic wine or used as a Kir ingredient. But the tide is turning. More and more top winemakers are recognizing the potential of this distinctive grape variety, especially in times of climate change. Colleen and Nicholas are among these pioneers: in Les Tilles, a plot in Santenay with limestone-rich marl soil, their vines are over 55 years old, deeply rooted but with low yield – and therefore even more expression.

After hand harvesting, the grapes are pressed whole, spontaneously fermented, and aged for 12 months in used 228l barriques. This is followed by a refinement in stainless steel tanks for another 6 months – without bâtonnage, without filtration, with minimal sulfur.

For Hedonists & Purists

An Aligoté with style and character: on the nose, green pear, Granny Smith apple, white peach, and a hint of lime zest appear. Along with delicate notes of wet stone, roasted hazelnut, and fresh fennel herb. On the palate, straightforward, with a cool pull, juicy structure, and a fine, salty-tinged acidity that carries long.

The warm 2023 vintage gives the wine a slightly riper fruit richness than 2022, without losing freshness or precision. The final impression? Radiantly clear and extremely lively.

Appealing Substance

Less volume than a Chardonnay, but more energy, more edge, and more tension – that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. A wine for people who love texture. Excellent with sea bass ceviche with grapefruit, grilled mussels, or simply with fresh goat cheese with lemon zest and olive oil.