2023 Domaine Ballot-Millot Bourgogne Aligoté

Domaine Ballot-Millot: tradition and precision

Domaine Ballot-Millot is located in the heart of Meursault, in the Côte de Beaune. The family history dates back to the 17th century, and today Charles Ballot is at the helm. He combines centuries-old tradition with modern winemaking techniques. The estate operates with respect for the terroir, low yields, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Everything revolves around purity and expressing the terroir in every wine.

The Ballot-Millot style is characterized by precision, tension, and texture. The wines are often compared to the best Meursaults, yet always retain their own understated character. While many wineries opt for heavier oak influences, Ballot-Millot strives for a balance between freshness and structure.

The Burgundy region and the terroir of the Côte de Beaune

The Côte de Beaune is the southernmost part of the Côte d'Or and is known as the epicenter of the great white Burgundies. The subsoil consists of chalky marl and clay, which ensures excellent drainage and mineral-rich wines. The climate is cool continental with warm summers and cool nights, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. This natural tension produces wines with lively acidity and great finesse.

The grapes for Ballot-Millot's Aligoté come from plots just outside the village of Meursault. The vines are planted on light, stony soils with limestone, which gives the wine a subtle salty-mineral character. Yields are deliberately kept low for added concentration and purity.

The Bourgogne Aligoté 2023 wine

Domaine Ballot-Millot's Bourgogne Aligoté is a brilliant example of how this grape can reach great heights in the right hands. Aligoté is traditionally Burgundy's "other" white varietal alongside Chardonnay, but this cuvée demonstrates its potential beyond a refreshing thirst quencher. Here, old vines, hand harvesting, and meticulous vinification are employed to create a wine with complexity, tension, and depth.

The 2023 harvest yielded healthy, perfectly ripe grapes with a remarkable freshness. The grapes were gently pressed, and the must fermented with indigenous yeasts. This was followed by aging for approximately twelve months in oak barrels, only a small portion of which were new. The wine was then aged for a further few months in stainless steel to maintain its tension. This combination results in a wine with roundness and texture, on the one hand, and lively freshness and purity on the other.

Color, smell and taste

The color is bright pale yellow with a subtle green tinge. The nose is refined, with notes of lemon, white peach, green apple, and a hint of brioche. On the palate, everything comes together: fresh acidity, a creamy texture, and the mineral tension typical of Ballot-Millot. The oak is perfectly integrated and supports the fruit without being overpowering. The finish is long, precise, and slightly salty, further emphasizing its Burgundian character.

Serving tips and storage potential

This wine is best enjoyed at a serving temperature of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius. Young, it is fresh and taut, with vibrant citrus and a mineral note. After a few years of bottle aging, the wine gains more depth, softer acidity, and aromas of honey and hazelnut. Its aging potential is between three and five years, although the wine will also offer great pleasure when young thanks to its balance and energy.

Would you like to order wines from Domaine Ballot-Millot online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you these when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pickup" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway with ample parking. Click here for our address. You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.

Wine and food pairings

• Grilled sea bass with lemon butter – the freshness of the wine cuts beautifully through the buttery sauce and enhances the delicate flavour of the fish.
• Veal oyster with creamy mushroom sauce – the round texture of the wine complements the tender meat and earthy notes.
• Goat cheese, green apple and walnut salad – the fresh acidity and light creaminess provide balance with the fruit and nuts.
• Lemon and green asparagus risotto – the citrus aromas of the wine complement this refined dish perfectly.
• Baked scallops with cauliflower cream – the full texture and subtle use of wood enhance the soft and sweet character of the scallops.
• Salmon tartare with dill and lime – the mineral freshness of the wine emphasises the pure flavours of the fish.