As part of the esteemed Montrachet family of Grand Crus located at the southern slopes of Cote de Beaune’s Montrachet hill, the small, 3.5 hectare climat of Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet lies adjacent to the more famous Bâtard-Montrachet vineyards whose name it partially shares. While the tract is also dedicated to the exclusive growth of Chardonnay, the wines from this lieu-dit, or small plot of land that bears a traditional name, present a slightly different profile than those from Puligny-Montrachet’s Les Pucelles Premier Cru vineyard to its north and Bâtard-Montrachet to its south.
The expanse of land within Puligny-Montrachet where Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet lies has been cultivated for wine-production since the Middle Ages. Creative and perceptive Cistercian monks, a Roman Catholic order that resided at nearby Maizière Abbey, were the first to appreciate the quality of the land with respect to viniculture, and began to plant vines with a flourish. This led to the growing recognition the region, and its wine, garnered in the 17th century, with the appellation created in 1937.
While the terroir of Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachetis similar to that of Bâtard-Montrachet – both feature limestone, marl and clay – its soil carries a much higher percentage of clay due to the fact that the village is located at the base of Montrachet hill. While this gravitational impact makes the soil richer, it makes for a heavier, less structured, slightly less refined and more full-bodied wine when compared to those from adjacent higher elevations. They do, however, share a distinctive minerality with their wine cousins, as the overall looseness of the soil encourages vine roots to dig deeply into the limestone for hydration.
Often described as more elegant than powerful, the wines of Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet present hints of fresh leaves, dried fruit, buttered croissants and delicate spices, and if stored with care, can surprisingly age up to 20 years without compromising their quality and desirability. Also like the wines from Bâtard-Montrachet, their tannins are in check, and tastefully avoid becoming overbearing.
It’s quite appropriate that Bienvenue is French for “Welcome,” as Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet is the first climat one encounters when traveling southbound towards the world-renowned Grand Cru vineyards of Puligny-Montrachet. While its name attaches itself to Bâtard-Montrachet for prestige as well as tradition, the addition of a welcoming word can be perceived not only as a greeting into one of Burgundy’s most celebrated wine-making regions but also as an entry into the enjoyment of exceptional, highly regarded fine wines. Many of the best Bourgogne producers, including Domaines Leflaive, Faiveley and Ramonet, create wines under this appellation, and represent some of the finest expressions of Chardonnay in the world.
