Chassagne-Montrachet is a town synonymous with opulence and richness. Its wines combine weight without heaviness – everything you want in a top class white Burgundy – but usually comes with a hefty pricetag. Roger Belland’s Santenay 1er cru “Beauregard” blanc is not quite as complex or long-lived as a Chassagne premier cru, but for half the price it does an admirable impression, and we think it’s a steal.
Belland’s Beauregard blanc vines are a few hundred yards from the Chassagne-Montrachet border, and the wine drinks like it’s from much fancier terroir. The 2022 Beauregard blanc is magnificent – real freshness to support the lush fruit, a mix of orchard and citrus. There’s a hint of wood rounding out the concentrated, supple fruit flavors.
Burghound found it “Outstanding,” calling it “opulent yet punchy,” concluding “This is really quite lovely and worth checking out.” White Burgundies under $75 have become harder and harder to find of late, (see our recent expansions in the Maconnais). But this $62 white Burgundy is the real deal – particularly in 2022, we think most blind tasters would easily place it over the border in Chassagne.
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Belland Santenay 1er blanc “Beauregard” 2022
bottle price: $62
