JEAN-CHARLES FAGOT Auxey Duresses Blanc 'Les Hautes' 2022 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Jean-Charles Fagot Auxey-Duresses Blanc ‘Les Hautes’ 2022 is a sunlit Côte de Beaune Chardonnay with a cool-night snap. Pale straw with green highlights, it leaps out with citrus blossom, lemon zest and green apple, then unfurls white peach, baked pear and a cheeky whiff of apricot from lees. A stony, crushed-shell mineral thread keeps things focused, while modest French oak gives toasted-almond and a hint of vanilla without stealing the show. Bright, poised and textural, the entry is lively, the mid-palate rounded, and the saline finish refreshes. Drink 2024–2030 at 10–12°C. Ideal with seared scallops, roast hake with lemon butter, creamy chicken or truffled mushroom risotto , elegant, food-friendly and immediately enjoyable. Great for sunny lunches or snug winter dinners.

ABOUT THIS WINE
The 2022 growing season in the Côte de Beaune was warm with cooler nights late in the campaign, producing Chardonnay with ripe aromatics and good natural acidity when handled carefully. Jean-Charles Fagot Auxey-Duresses Blanc Les Hautes 2022 is drawn from higher, well drained limestone and clay soils that lend a crisp mineral spine beneath generous fruit. Grapes are hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed and fermented mainly in French oak of which a modest proportion is new, with élevage on fine lees and occasional bâtonnage to build mid-palate weight while preserving clarity and freshness.

The wine pours a pale straw with green highlights and an immediate, open nose. Citrus blossom, lemon zest and green apple lead, followed by white peach and ripe pear. A subtle floral lift of acacia and a faint honeyed apricot note from the lees add charm, while a stony seam of crushed shell and wet stone gives the aromatics focus. Oak influence is measured, offering toasted almond and a whisper of vanilla rather than overt oakiness.

On the palate the 2022 is poised and textural. The entry is bright and precise with citrus and orchard fruit driving the front palate before a rounded mid-palate appears, shaped by lees contact and gentle oak integration. Acidity is lively enough to lend tension and lift, preventing the wine from feeling heavy, while a clean saline mineral thread carries through to a long, fresh finish. Mid-palate flavours include lemon curd, baked pear and a faint marzipan note that provides depth without sweetness.

Suggested drinking window 2024 to 2030. Serve chilled at around 10 to 12°C. Food pairings include seared scallops with brown butter and capers, roast hake with a lemon and herb beurre blanc, creamy chicken fricassee, lobster thermidor, goat cheese tart or truffled mushroom risotto for a richer match. Overall this Les Hautes 2022 is an elegant, mineral-driven Auxey with good texture, immediate appeal and reliable short to mid-term cellaring potential.

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ABOUT JEAN-CHARLES FAGOT
Jean-Charles Fagot is a charismatic vigneron of the Côte de Beaune whose wines combine traditional craft with lively personality. He farms roughly three hectares centred on Corpeau and supplements his production with carefully chosen grapes from neighbouring growers, vinifying everything to his exacting standards. Key bottlings include a Bourgogne Blanc Cote d’Or Les Champs Huillier and a spirited Bourgogne Aligoté, while very small parcels yield Puligny-Montrachet village and the 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny when vintage and purchase opportunities allow.

In the vineyard Fagot follows lutte raisonnée, intervening with chemical treatments only when necessary to protect vine health. Canopy management, green harvesting when required and selective hand picking are routine, aimed at achieving balanced ripeness and concentration. His parcels are tended with respect for soil life and biodiversity so that each plot can express its particular minerality and textural nuance.

Vinification is traditional, natural and hands on. Whites are gently pressed and fermented with attention to preserving varietal purity. Fagot uses a combination of large oak foudres and smaller barrels for élevage, typically ageing wines for twelve to fourteen months to develop texture and integrate lees influence without overwhelming primary fruit. He adapts élevage choices to the character of each parcel and vintage, favouring subtle oak support rather than dominant wood signatures. When he buys fruit from neighbours it receives the same careful sorting and cellar treatment as estate fruit.

Stylistically his wines are noted for clarity, structural poise and an engaging balance of energy and roundness. The Bourgogne Aligoté is lively and precise, the Bourgogne Blanc shows floral lift, citrus and saline minerality, and the Puligny examples—rare and small in quantity—offer the refined depth and ageing potential expected from the commune.

Beyond winemaking Jean-Charles is a gifted musician and proprietor of the Auberge du Vieux Vigneron brasserie in Corpeau, where he often entertains guests and pours his wines. That conviviality, together with multi-generational knowhow and meticulous cellarcraft, gives his bottlings both character and a genuine sense of place.