Beaune house focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Bourgogne red and white wines, Chablis, and historic Pavillon Bouchard cellars.
The producer
Bouchard Aîné & Fils is a Beaune house devoted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its wines include Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Rosé, Bourgogne Chardonnay and Chablis. Chardonnay matures on fine lees in stainless steel vats and oak barrels, while house élevage uses oak to support concentration and acidity for cellaring. Chablis has a long, persistent finish with sweet spices and good cellaring potential. The Pavillon Bouchard contains historic eighteenth century cellars, and the winemaking cellars opened to the public with a Five Senses tour.
Known for
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Beaune
Notable facts
In 1950, the eighth generation commemorated the bicentennial of Michel Bouchard's arrival in Beaune.
In 1998, the winemaking cellars opened to the public, the wine shop opened, and the Five Senses tour was launched.
The story
From Brokerage To Export
In 1828, Théodore Joseph, the eldest son of Antoine Philibert, started a wine brokerage that became known as Bouchard Aîné et Fils. By 1890, Bouchard Aîné had become the largest exporter in Burgundy, shipping its wines to over 30 countries. The destinations included China, Japan, India, South America and Africa. By then, wine from the Beaune house, focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, was reaching countries across Asia, South America and Africa. The brokerage had become an export business spanning several continents.
From the atlas
Bouchard Aîné & Fils
A Beaune house devoted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with red, rosé and white wines in its range.
Bouchard Aîné & Fils is a Beaune house whose portfolio is devoted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Nine generations of the Bouchard family followed one another before the Boisset family acquired the house in 1993. Its wines include red, rosé and white styles.
Place
Beaune is the house's home in the Côte de Beaune, at 4 Boulevard Maréchal Foch. The Pavillon Bouchard contains historic eighteenth century cellars.
Wines
The range includes Bourgogne Pinot Noir as a regional red, Pinot Noir Rosé as a rosé, Bourgogne Chardonnay as a regional white, and Chablis as a separate white appellation. Red and rosé both use Pinot Noir, while the Chardonnay bottling matures on fine lees for six months, partly in stainless steel vats and partly in oak barrels.
Fine lees are the spent yeast cells left after fermentation. Contact with them can give a fuller texture. Stainless steel adds no oak flavour, while barrels contribute oak character and gentle oxygen exchange.
The house ages its wines for 14 to 16 months in oak, with 15 to 30 percent new oak. Oak can add toast and spice as the wine develops. The house's ageing philosophy combines good concentration with acidity that allows cellaring without making the wines overly aggressive.
Chablis has a well balanced, unctuous palate and a long, persistent finish with sweet spices. In good cellar conditions, it can age for at least 2 to 5 years.
Final Word
Bouchard Aîné & Fils is a Beaune house devoted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Bourgogne Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Rosé and Chablis. Its Chardonnay rests on fine lees, and house ageing uses oak.