Aline Beauné Chazelle Montagny 1er Cru Côte Chalonnaise Burgundy 2019

Just as we relish discovering new gems from the hidden corners of Napa, our friends in the import business like to drop by to introduce us to lesser-known regions and small producers from the wider world of wine. Such was the case when our pal and French wine guru Szymon Sipowski recently came by to tip us off about the amazing, (and amazingly affordable) wines being produced by a young winemaker named Aline Beauné in an often-overlooked subregion of Burgundy. So, pack your bags, because we’d like to take you on a gustatory voyage to the Côte Chalonnaise! Côte in French can mean either “coast” as in the gorgeous blue waters of the Côte d’Azur or “slope” – as in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or or the “Golden Slope.” However, many wines from the Côte d’Or are practically worth their weight in gold, and the lofty price points can make them inaccessible for many mere mortals. 

Lying just to the south of its more famous neighbors, the Côte Chalonnaise continues along this same hillside spine, with much of the same “terroir” that makes Burgundy so famous and its wines so highly sought-after. Wine has been made here for millennia- archaeological digs have uncovered more than 20,000 amphorae (ceramic wine casks) stamped with ancient Roman emblems. Also here in the Côte Chalonnaise, you’ll find Montagny, a medieval village that looks like it popped out of the pages of a collection of fairy tales. While Montagny doesn’t have any Grand Crus, there are 49 Premier Crus, all of which are dedicated to white wine- primarily Chardonnay. These are not the big California-style Chardonnays, however, but sublime, crisp, nuanced wines characterized by a lack of new oak. Aline Beauné’s gorgeous wine featured this month comes from one such Montagny Premier Cru Vineyard called “Chazelle.” 

Aline Beauné’s family has been growing Chardonnay grapes in this pastoral vineyard surrounding the village for generations, but much of the fruit was sold under contract to other domaines. So Aline began her career a decade ago at the legendary Chateau de la Crée, thirty minutes north in Santenay, crafting wines from some of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy. A stroke of luck occurred in 2018 when the lease of her parents’ fruit expired, and Aline jumped at the opportunity to start her own label. The 2019 we are delighted to share with you is a shimmering, elegant, and classic rendering of what makes Burgundy so special. It’s also proof that a little suggestion from friends in the know can still help you find a gorgeous wine from a world-renowned region that won’t break the bank.