2019 Albert Bichot Aligote Blanc Bourgogne 750 ml

Aligoté is Burgundy’s great insider secret: We’re convinced that if we could pour a taste of the citrusy, minerally wine for every white-wine lover in the country, it would rocket to the top, bumping some current household-name varieties down the list. 

Rarity is the only reason that Aligoté hasn’t reached superstar status in the States. The grape is sparsely planted, and what does make it to the bottle is snatched up by thirsty locals and Parisian bistros long before an importer can even take a taste.

Luckily, we have an inside track. Because of our rock-solid relationship with Wine Access-favorite Domaine Albert Bichot, we’ve arranged for an allocation of their 2019 Aligoté—a standout bargain in an already value-laden lineup.

Bichot is a Wine Access favorite because of their uncanny knack for getting amazing value from sought-after regions while keeping quality sky-high, and their Aligoté is another home run. Platinum-toned in the glass, the wine gives delightfully fresh aromas of lemon zest, Key lime, and Buddha’s Hand citrus, all mixed with white flowers and a touch of chamomile. The palate has Aligoté’s trademark acidity, with a salty mineral drive that underpins white orchard fruits and more citrus zest.

Thanks to our members’ Bichot devotion, we can offer the 2019 for just $17.99. It’s a stellar value, even by Bichot’s standards.

With three Winemaker of the Year titles under their belt, Albert Bichot is a Burgundy stalwart that Decanter called “one of the region’s most dynamic, quality-focused” domaines. That’s seriously impressive praise, considering Burgundy’s host of internationally renowned estates. They’ve been landowners in Burgundy since the 14th century, and over the years have built one of the most enviable collections of vineyards in the area, allowing them to tap into top terroirs up and down the region.

Bichot’s Aligoté is one of the best bargains in their already value-laden lineup. It’s planted on the region’s prized calcareous clay soils, heavy in limestone, that enhance the signature brightness and minerality of the grape. Bichot also uses stainless steel tanks for both fermentation and aging to preserve that minerality, and the wine is as classic an example of the grape as you can find.

Citrusy and mineral-driven Aligoté is beloved by quality-focused winemakers (Leroy, Roulot, and Coche-Dury among them) and French restaurateurs—yet it only accounts for 6% of Burgundy’s acreage. Historically, it was a grape that you’d see on the tables of winemakers in Burgundy, who prized its hardiness in the vineyard and tangy acidity, but it has remained out of the limelight, keeping prices low—even as wineries like Bichot continue to push the envelope on quality for the grape.

Unfortunately, Aligoté’s status as an underplanted variety means that there isn’t much to go around. Don’t sleep on a chance to drink this now, because these wines aren’t often available.