Antoine Jobard, Bourgogne Aligoté

Burgundy, France  |  2020

Burgundy is one of France and the world’s most celebrated regions. Simply put, this is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at their best.

Yet one grape variety from Burgundy is arguably as important and beloved by its locals. Aligoté is a grape variety grown throughout Burgundy. A natural cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, it was widely planted before phylloxera. After the disease wiped out the majority of the vines, most producers preferred to plant solely Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Bourgogne Aligoté and Aligoté Bouzeron are the two appellations left that showcase wines made entirely of this unique and delicious grape variety. Producers of these appellation wines have had a lot to work to do to better the image of a wine, that was considered by many so innocuous that it became the base of a Kir, a wine cocktail where it is blended with crème de cassis.

What we’ve found is that Aligoté in the right hands can be so much more. Many staunch advocates of the variety point to its expressiveness of terroir as a factor in its complexity. Wine is also about being delicious and great to pair with food, and the best of Aligoté easily checks these boxes.

We’ve included an Aligoté from one of the legendary producers of White Burgundy, the Jobard family of Meursault. François Jobard was a legend in the appellation, known for pure, mineral driven whites that could age for decades. His son Antoine has run the domaine for many years, and has proven every bit the same adept touch with his eight different bottling of Meursault. These are rare and expensive wines, that are collected by top wine enthusiasts throughout the world.

His homage to Aligoté, is produced from 35+ year old vines, from a .2 hectare vineyard planted in a combination of clay and limestone. Like all of Jobard’s wines, there is an unhurried approach to vinification, with a slow fermentation in the dark, cold cellar, and long lees aging.

The 2020 Aligoté is simply delicious. Notes of white flowers, fresh peach, and lime zest. Light-bodied, with plenty of mineral and citrus notes on the long, refreshing finish. It is an ideal match with simply prepared shellfish, but can also go with a pasta tossed in pesto.