Burgundy's "Other Chablis" - Maybe the Best Aligote I've Had - Think 1er Cru Chablis, Terrific Value at $22.99

2019 Is An Incredible Vintage in Burgundy
Two Great Value Wines from a Young Star

Aligote 
 - Every Great Producer in Burgundy Makes an Aligote
 - What Do They Know That We Don't?
 - Master Growers Combine Aligote's Natural Minerality and Acidic Verve
 - ...with Fantastic Fruit Expression
 - And Julien Cruchandeau Makes One of the Best Aligote's I've Ever Had

2019 Julien Cruchandeau Bouzeron Massale (Aligote) 
 - Think Really Good 1er Cru Chablis ... for $22.99
 - Aligote's Minerality and Freshness
 - Combined with Julien's Stunning Fruit
 - A Hint of Opulence 
 - I'm Selling This Because It's Incredible Wine 
 - And Because I Want You to Have It
 - Because Selling Incredible, Well Made Unappreciated, Underpriced Wines Is What Makes Fass Selections ... Fass Selections
 - Our Only Cote Chalonnaisse

NV (2019) Julien Cruchandeau Cremant de Bourgogne Rose 
 - 12 Months of Secondary Fermentation in Bottle
 - A Very Distinctive and Delicious Spakrler
 - Intense but so Drinkable
 - Nose: Big Red Cherries and Red Berries
 - Palate: Ripe Apricot, Redcurrant and Raspberry
 - The Perfect Aperitif Wine

 - $21.99! 

Why You Should Drink Aligote

Aligote is seen as the third wheel in Burgundy yet almost every great producer makes one. Ramonet, Leroy, Roulout, Arnaud Ente, Aubert de Villaine and countless others. You should ask yourself a question: if all of these great winemakers are making wine from Aligote, what do they know that you don't?  This wine comes from Bouzeron, which is in the Chalonnaisse, is generally thought to be the highest expression of Aligote.

I've had two bottles the past month of the impressive '19 and also tasted the amazing '16 and '14 a few Februarys back at his estate, and all have been beyond impressive. Julien has roots in Bouzeron as he worked there for 5 years at Domaine Lecheneaut. I must say I think Julien's Bouzeron is one of the best I have tasted. I like it even more than Aubert de Villaine's great one at A et P Villaine. Also it is a stunning
value.

The 2019 Julien Cruchandeau Bouzeron Massale can be had today for as little as $22.99 on a 4-pack. It follow in the footsteps of the terrific 2018 with its incredible laser-focused acidity and beautiful pure tart lime-lemon fruit.  But it also has wonderful body, a hint of opulence and insane freshness on the finish. Terrific length and purity. 

The nose has the classic Aligote notes of minerals on top of lime skins and some seashell aromas. 10% is in barrel which gives this a touch of roundness, with 90% being in stainless steel. This is not your father's screechy joyless Aligote.  The combination of the terroir and Julien's magic touch gives this wine delicious fruit that goes remarkably well with it's minerality and acidic backbone.  Think really good 1er Cru Chablis.  Fresh with and wonderful acidity. Yummy. Lemon/lime fruit and accented with superb minerality. Very complex and a lot of wine for the money. This also ages very well. I had the 2004 in the cellar in March a few years ago and it was terrific.  You should have a bottle or 2 in your cellar.  Trust me, one day you'll want a white to drink other than Chard, Riesling, Marsanne and Chenin and you'll be thrilled that you bought this.

Up next I have one of the more fun yet serious sparkling wines I will ever sell and boy is it a value! The NV (2018) Julien Cruchandeau Cremant de Bourgogne Rose for $21.99 a bottle on a 4-Pack. I know. The price is ridiculous. It's a great fun wine. Grapes are hand picked and secondary fermentation in bottle lasts 12 months. This gets the wine its especially fine bubbles. The color is awesome. It's like a pinkish salmon but more pinkish. The wine is intense but so drinkable. It is Fass Selections so it will be complex and not so easy even at $19.99! 

Big red cherries and red berries on the nose. You also get fresh spring air and some minerals.

Palate has ripe apricot, redcurrant and raspberry. Really delicious fruit.  All the while this retains terrific finesse and it's really impressive how well put together this wine is for under $22. This is the perfect aperitif wine. With a chocolate-based dessert, this could be a blast. This is not a long ager. Drink within 3 years to retain the freshness of the wine. 

2019 Julien Cruchandeau Bouzeron Massale (Aligote) - $24.99

($91.96 4-Pack) 

 

NV (2019) Julien Cruchandeau Cremant de Bourgogne Rose  - $23.99 

($87.96 4-Pack)