Exclusively for The Spill subscribers:
Burgundy's Rebellion Against Chardonnay
I asked my friends at burgundywine.com for special wines to offer to Spill Subscribers. They keep coming through!!
The Third Anomaly: Burgundy's Rebellion Against Chardonnay
If you think white Burgundy begins and ends with Chardonnay, think again.
Over the last two weeks on The Spill, we have explored a couple of the region's absolute rule-breakers. First, we featured the Cromey ‘Le Clos’ White 2023, a Chardonnay sourced from an ultra-rare, historic 70-year-untouched walled vineyard. Then, we looked at the Saint-Bris Rosé, a highly unusual, sophisticated Pinot Gris masquerading as a delicate pink wine.
This week we have another rule breaker. The third. Dare we call it a Trilogy of Burgundy’s best-kept secrets? So you ask, what is it? The Aligoté grape from Bouzeron—the only village in all of Burgundy legally dedicated entirely to the Aligoté grape.
For decades, Aligote was a sort of redheaded stepchild until a saviour came along and a legendary one at that: Aubert de Villaine, the iconic long-time co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC).
While crafting the most expensive Pinot Noir on earth in the Côte de Nuits, de Villaine quietly fell in love with the forgotten slopes of Bouzeron. Because he believed Aligote deserved a seat at the top table, he championed the unique, low-yielding Aligoté Doré (golden) clone in the village of Bouzeron. Rather than keeping this viticultural treasure to himself, de Villaine generously shared his prized old-vines rootstock cuttings with a passionate group of younger, independent winemakers to encourage a high-quality Aligoté renaissance in the village.
Enter Julien Cruchandeau—one of the standout talents of that younger generation.
His Bouzeron 'Cuvée Massale' (normally $48, but only $39 for The Spill readers) is an absolute revelation, built directly on that heritage of meticulous selection. Cruchandeau treats Aligoté as a badge of honor, and this bottle completely redefines what the grape can do:
The Profile: Energetic green apple, vibrant citrus, and striking white floral aromatics.
The Finish: An intensely clean, salty, mineral drive that screams "limestone terroir."
The Verdict: Crisp, complex, and carrying the DNA of Burgundy royalty. It is the ultimate insider's white wine.
The Quantity: Limited, so get it while you can!
Spill readers can grab this third wine of the Burgundy anomaly trilogy directly before the rest of the world catches on and while the limited supply lasts. Only $39 - special price for The Spill readers.
And, in case you missed the special offers from the last two weeks:
For the first wine in the Trilogy, Cromey Le Clos blanc 2023 CLICK HERE. Still at the same low price special offer for readers of The Spill
The second wine in the Trilogy, Saint-Bris Rosé CLICK HERE. Still at the same low price special offer for readers of The Spill.