Joseph Colin Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Champlots Blanc 2023

Les Champlots holds a particular significance in the Joseph Colin story — this parcel was replanted to Chardonnay in place of Pinot Noir in 2016, with the first vintage produced in 2019 from young vines and just four barrels made — making it one of the newest and most closely watched additions to the range. Domaine Joseph Colin Saint-Aubin Les Champlots is a fine premier cru from what is perhaps Burgundy's best-value village appellation — Saint-Aubin lies just next door to the legendary vineyards of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, yet its wines sell for a fraction of the price. Stephen Brook of Decanter has noted that for many years the best producer in the village was Marc Colin, who has now handed the reins to his sons — Joseph among them, applying the same minimal-intervention philosophy here as across his entire portfolio, fermenting with indigenous yeast and ageing in barrel on fine lees with the lightest possible touch.

The young-vine 2019 exhibited hints of pear, citrus zest, toasted almonds and mint — medium to full-bodied, satiny and charming, bright and precise, with a pretty core of fruit. As the vines have matured, the wine has gained depth without losing that essential freshness — bright and floral on the nose, with crisp green apple, white blossom and a touch of citrus peel; on the palate satiny and precise, with juicy citrus and orchard fruit carried by a lively mineral line, finishing with zesty acidity, fine texture and a lingering floral lift. Each Saint-Aubin site in the Colin range is picked on the early side to preserve acidity and lift, resulting in wines that hum with energy, balanced by the textural mid-palate richness that is a hallmark of Colin's style — wines that never overreach, staying honest to their terroir.