2024 Domaine Ballot-Millot Bourgogne Chardonnay

The Domaine Ballot-Millot Bourgogne Chardonnay is a wine that demonstrates the level an 'entry-level Burgundy' can possess when produced by a top estate in Meursault. This is not a simple, flat Chardonnay, but a wine with remarkable precision, tension, and typical Burgundy refinement. The warm yet well-balanced 2023 vintage combined ripe fruit with sufficient freshness, resulting in white Burgundies that already possess charm while remaining beautifully balanced.

Domaine Ballot-Millot has been a fixture of Meursault for generations. The family estate, whose history dates back to the 17th century, is currently led by Charles Ballot. Since he took over the domaine from his father Philippe in 2000, quality has visibly continued to rise. With great respect for the terroir, he works with low yields, careful vineyard management, and a style centered on purity and precision. Modern techniques are combined with traditional methods, including fermentation in wood and long aging on the lees to build texture and complexity.

For this Bourgogne Chardonnay, Ballot-Millot works with grapes sourced from carefully selected plots around Meursault. As a result, the wine benefits from a remarkably high level of quality for the appellation. Fermentation takes place partly in oak barrels, followed by aging in which the wood is deliberately used subtly. The goal is clear: to preserve freshness, fruit, and terroir, without the wood dominating.

In the glass, the 2023 Bourgogne Chardonnay immediately reveals its appeal. Aromas of ripe citrus, yellow apple, and white peach leap forward, followed by light notes of blossom, almond, and a subtle minerality. On the palate, the wine is juicy and precise, with sufficient concentration and a beautiful tension between ripe fruit and fresh acidity. The texture is slightly creamy without becoming heavy. The finish is clean, energetic, and surprisingly long for this level.

That is precisely what makes this wine so appealing. You can taste the hand of a producer who makes no compromises, even on his base wines. For lovers of refined white Burgundy, this is an excellent introduction to the Ballot-Millot style and, at the same time, a wine that effortlessly rises above many Burgundy Chardonnays in this price range.