Montagny Reconnaissance 2023 Domaine Aline Beauné

The Montagny Reconnaissance 2023 from Domaine Aline Beauné is the domaine's most personal cuvée, laden with history. Its name is not that of a lieu-dit, but rather a tribute. Reconnaissance, expressing Aline Beauné's gratitude toward her mother, who began with a tiny 0.35-hectare parcel adjoining her grandmother's house, the origin of the entire family viticultural heritage. A cuvée born of emotion as much as terroir, awarded five stars by Jasper Morris MW, one of Burgundy's greatest specialists.

The parcel and ageing

Reconnaissance comes from this historic family plot at the heart of Montagny village, on the characteristic marl and clay-limestone soils of the Côte Chalonnaise. What radically distinguishes this cuvée from all others at the domaine is its ageing. Aline Beauné made the journey herself to source an Alsatian foudre, a century-old oak vessel of 1,500 litres over 90 years of age, which she brought back and installed in her cellars carved into Montagny's stone ramparts. The wine's entire ageing takes place in this singular vessel, without new oak contribution. The ancient Alsatian foudre, by its size and age, imparts no woody flavour but offers slow, gentle micro-oxygenation that gives the wine an unctuousness, roundness, and depth that neither stainless steel nor traditional barrels can reproduce. A singular encounter between Burgundian terroir and an Alsatian vessel, each with its own story to tell.

Tasting profile

The colour is pale yellow with golden glints, slightly deeper than a village wine, bright and limpid. The nose is elegant and refined, revealing aromas of citrus, preserved lemon, grapefruit zest, joined by white flowers, fresh almond, and a fine, taut minerality. On the palate, the wine is ample, silky, and harmonious, with round, generous matter nourished by foudre ageing, traversed by a beautiful line of acidity bringing freshness and backbone. Tannins are absent, the texture remarkably soft, and the long, persistent finish leaves an impression of restrained elegance and rare finesse. A Burgundian Chardonnay that is both generous and subtle, approachable now and promised fine evolution over three to five years.

The domaine

Aline Beauné founded her domaine in 2018 at Montagny-lès-Buxy, after 13 years leading winemaking at a respected Côte de Beaune domaine. When the Buxy cooperative's contract on the family's 5.5 hectares of vineyard ended, she seized the opportunity to establish her own domaine, with ambition to produce wines of great quality from Montagny and Côte Chalonnaise terroirs. Committed to organic farming conversion, she has eliminated herbicides and chemical treatments, incorporating biodynamic preparations to revitalise the soils. Each cuvée embodies a precise vision of terroir, expressed by a vigneron whose talent is now recognised well beyond the Côte Chalonnaise borders.

Food pairing

This Montagny Reconnaissance pairs beautifully with sautéed scallops in tarragon butter, sole fillet in chive cream, traditional veal blanquette, asparagus and parmesan risotto, or herb-roasted farm chicken. It harmonises equally well with pressed-paste cheeses such as 18-month Comté or Cîteaux. Served at 10 to 12 °C, it reveals the full softness and depth of its unique ageing.