Bourgogne Cote d'Or Chardonnay 'Sécret de Famille', Albert Bichot, 2022
Bourgogne Cote d'Or Chardonnay 'Sécret de Famille', Albert Bichot, 2022
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- White Still
- Chardonnay
Couldn't load pickup availability
Optimal drinking window: Now - 2028
Albert Bichot’s 2022 Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay Sécret de Famille is a great snapshot of what white Burgundy is all about without getting overly serious. It’s bright and fresh, with aromas of citrus, crisp apple, and a touch of white flowers, rounded out by a gentle hint of toast from oak. On the palate it’s smooth and balanced, with enough texture to feel satisfying but still plenty of lift and freshness. Easy to enjoy now, it’s a versatile bottle that works just as well on its own as it does with roast chicken, creamy pasta, or a plate of seafood.
Renowned wine critic Neal Martin comments that Albert Bichot can make "really quite delicious, complex wines that often surprise people in blind tastings when not swayed by the label." The 2022s are no exception and the Bichot portfolio is once again on cracking form.
Features as one of the 'Top 15 Négociants & Cooperatives' in Tim Atkin's Burgundy 2022 Special Report.
Right now, this 2022 is showing beautifully with its primary fruit flavours well-integrated with the oak, making it immediately appealing and approachable. Over the next year or two, we'd expect the citrus brightness to soften slightly whilst the mineral and toasted elements become more pronounced, creating a more complex but still fresh wine. By 2028, it will have reached full maturity, showing honeyed notes alongside the fruit, though given the vintage's natural acidity, it should hold its freshness well. Don't expect it to transform dramatically like a grand cru might, but rather to develop more nuanced complexity whilst retaining its essential charm and drinkability.
What the critics say:
"Delicious, fresh fruit aromas lead to buttery, toasted almond and baked apple flavors in this medium-bodied blend from up and down the exclusive Cote d’Or appellation. Rich yet balanced, creamy in texture and lingering in the finish. Drink now."
"A fuller yellow colour. The sunshine shows a little more than usual on the nose, ripe yellow plum fruit on the palate, a little warmth behind, then good acidity. A touch of toast from the barrel, very good length. This is an avowedly opulent style. Drink from 2025-2027. Tasted: October 2023."
Food Pairings
In Burgundy, this style of Chardonnay would find its way to tables laden with escargots swimming in garlic butter, where the wine's richness matches the dish's indulgence whilst the acidity cuts through beautifully. Coq au vin blanc is another natural partner, the wine's oak and texture complementing the creamy sauce, whilst pike-perch from the Saône, simply prepared with herbs and butter, would showcase the wine's mineral elegance. Local Chaource cheese, with its creamy interior and bloomy rind, makes for a perfect end-of-meal pairing that highlights both the wine's richness and its fresh finish.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well-chilled at 10-12°C to preserve its freshness and balance. No need to decant, though you might want to let it warm slightly in the glass to reveal its full texture and complexity. A decent Burgundy glass with a generous bowl will help concentrate the aromatics, though a good white wine glass will do perfectly well if you haven't got the full kit.
Bourgogne Côte d'Or draws from vineyards scattered across both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, where limestone and marl soils provide the mineral backbone that defines white Burgundy. The 2022 vintage benefited from warm, dry conditions that concentrated flavours while retaining the natural acidity that keeps these wines fresh. This particular blend allows Bichot to cherry-pick parcels from across the golden slopes, creating a wine that captures the essence of Burgundian Chardonnay without the eye-watering price of a single vineyard.
Bourgogne Côte d'Or sits just below village-level Burgundy in the hierarchy, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a consolation prize. Created in 2017, this appellation allows négociants like Bichot to blend fruit from prestigious communes across both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, something the stricter village appellations don't permit. The result is often more consistent and better value than many village wines, offering a genuine taste of what makes Burgundy special without the postcode premium. It's Burgundy's best-kept secret, really.
The 2022 growing season in Burgundy began with a worryingly dry spring that had vignerons checking soil moisture levels weekly, followed by a summer that alternated between intense heat and welcome rainfall. The vines handled the stress remarkably well, producing smaller berries with concentrated flavours, though yields dropped significantly across both the Côte d'Or and Chablis. Harvest began earlier than usual, with many producers picking in late August under bright skies.
What emerged from the cellars shows a vintage of surprising finesse given the challenging conditions. The Pinot Noirs display vivid fruit and firm tannins without the jammy weight you might expect from a hot year, whilst the Chardonnays retained their mineral backbone alongside ripe stone fruit flavours. We're finding the village-level wines particularly compelling right now, drinking beautifully with just a year or two of bottle age, though the premier and grand crus will reward patience until the late 2020s.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Fresh and elegant with citrus, crisp apple, and white flowers, rounded out by gentle oak that adds richness without overwhelming the fruit. Think classic white Burgundy character at an accessible level.
When should I drink this wine?
It's gorgeous right now and will continue to be so until 2027. We'd suggest enjoying it within the next couple of years whilst the fruit is at its most vibrant.
What food pairs well with this Chardonnay?
Roast chicken is a classic match, but it works beautifully with creamy pasta dishes, grilled fish, or seafood. The wine's balance means it's versatile enough to drink on its own as well.
How should I serve this wine?
Well-chilled at 10-12°C in a decent white wine glass. No need to decant, just open and pour. Let it warm slightly in the glass to show its full character.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
It will develop nicely over the next few years, gaining complexity whilst retaining freshness, but it's not built for long-term cellaring. We'd suggest enjoying it by 2027 whilst it's at its best.
How does this compare to village-level Burgundy?
It offers genuine Burgundy character at a much friendlier price point. The quality is often more consistent than village wines, as Bichot can blend from their best parcels across the Côte d'Or.
Explore related wines
-
-
Speak to one of our Wine Gurus
Speak to a Wine GuruWith years of experience, our team can help you with all your wine buying and selling needs