Mâcon-Lugny Les Charmes, Albert Bichot, 2021
Mâcon-Lugny Les Charmes, Albert Bichot, 2021
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- White Still
- Chardonnay
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2030
Fruit-forwarded on the nose, bursting with notes of blossom, peach and citrus. Beautifully ripe with a fine line of acidity, this is top stuff.
Albert Bichot's impressive range goes all the way up to crazily rare Grands Crus (with hefty price tags to match!), yet we've always been thrilled by their entry-level range of Burgundies. The whites, whether from the Macon, Chablis or Beaune, always offer incredible value for money, whilst the reds capture everything we love about Pinot Noir, with abundant red fruit, great freshness and a wonderful spicy finish.
This 2021 is drinking beautifully now in its primary fruit phase, showing all the peachy generosity and fresh acidity that makes Mâcon so appealing. Over the next year or two, the fruit will integrate further while subtle honeyed characters may emerge from extended lees contact. Unlike more serious white Burgundies, this is built for pleasure rather than cellaring - the vibrant fruit will gradually fade after 2030, so we'd recommend enjoying it while the primary aromatics remain bright and lifted.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale gold with green highlights, bright and clear.
NosePeach blossom and white flowers lead, followed by ripe pear and a hint of honeyed citrus. There's a subtle mineral lift that speaks to the limestone soils, plus just a whisper of vanilla from careful oak handling.
PalateMedium-bodied with lovely fruit concentration, the peach and citrus flavours carrying through with precision. The acidity provides excellent backbone without being sharp, while a creamy texture adds weight. Clean mineral notes emerge on the mid-palate, giving complexity beyond simple fruit.
FinishFresh and persistent, with white stone fruit lingering alongside chalky minerality.
Overall impressionA textbook Mâcon that delivers both immediate pleasure and authentic Burgundian character.
Food Pairings
In the Mâconnais, this style of Chardonnay traditionally accompanies the region's famous Chaource cheese, whose creamy richness complements the wine's fruit character perfectly. Local cooks pair it with quenelles de brochet (pike dumplings) in cream sauce, a classic Burgundian dish where the wine's acidity cuts through the richness. Coq au vin blanc, made with the same wine, is another regional favourite, while simpler preparations like grilled trout with herbs or escargots in garlic butter showcase the wine's versatility with both delicate and robust flavours.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well-chilled at 10-12°C to preserve the fresh fruit character and crisp acidity. No need to decant - simply open and pour into medium-sized white wine glasses that concentrate the delicate aromatics. If the wine seems a touch closed on opening, a gentle swirl will release the peachy fruit and blossom characters beautifully.
The Les Charmes vineyard sits on the limestone-rich soils typical of the Mâconnais, with clay-limestone subsoils that retain moisture during dry spells. The continental climate brings warm summers tempered by cool nights, allowing Chardonnay to ripen fully while maintaining fresh acidity. These conditions create wines with more immediate fruit appeal than their northern Burgundian cousins, yet still retain mineral backbone from the limestone bedrock.
Mâcon-Lugny represents some of the best value in white Burgundy, sitting in the southern Mâconnais where the climate is warmer and the wines more approachable young. The appellation requires 100% Chardonnay and covers vineyards around the village of Lugny on predominantly limestone soils. Unlike the austere minerality of Chablis or the power of Meursault, Mâcon-Lugny typically offers fruit-forward charm with subtle complexity, making it Burgundy's most accessible expression of Chardonnay.
The 2021 growing season in Burgundy started badly and got worse before pulling off one of wine's great escapes. Spring frost in April devastated vineyards across the Côte d'Or, followed by a summer that alternated between biblical downpours and scorching heat. Many producers lost 50% or more of their crop to the frost alone, then watched hail batter what remained in some unlucky villages. By August, with rot creeping through rain-soaked vineyards, even the most optimistic vignerons were writing off the vintage.
What emerged from this chaos surprised everyone: wines with remarkable freshness and purity, if you can find them. The tiny yields meant those grapes that survived were intensely concentrated, while the September sunshine saved the day with perfect ripening conditions. We find the reds show beautiful fruit clarity without heaviness, drinking with an immediacy that makes them irresistible now but promising a decade or more of evolution. The whites are particularly stunning, with a mineral intensity that cuts through their richness. Yes, there's not much 2021 Burgundy about, and yes, it's expensive, but this is one of those vintages where disaster bred greatness.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Fresh and fruit-forward with ripe peach, citrus blossom and crisp acidity. Think accessible Burgundian Chardonnay with lovely mineral backbone.
When should I drink this wine?
Perfect right now and over the next 3-4 years while the primary fruit remains vibrant and fresh.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Excellent with creamy cheeses, grilled fish, roast chicken, or rich egg dishes. The acidity cuts through cream sauces beautifully.
How should I serve this wine?
Serve well-chilled at 10-12°C in medium white wine glasses. No need to decant - just open and enjoy.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
This is built for drinking rather than keeping. Enjoy it over the next few years while the peachy fruit character remains bright.
How does this compare to other white Burgundies?
More approachable than Chablis, less powerful than Meursault. It offers classic Chardonnay character at brilliant value for Burgundy.
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