2018 - Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Jean-Claude Bachelet

The 2018 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has also turned out brilliantly, and it's a touch more introspective than the Blanchot at this early stage. Mingling scents of orange oil and clear honey with hints of toasted almonds, Anjou pears, pastry cream, nutmeg and white flowers, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with striking texture and dimension, racy acids and terrific concentration that largely transcends the vintage. Long and penetrating, this is a fabulous Bienvenues from the domaine that I am more and more inclined to nominate as this climat's finest exponent.

The 2018 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has quite a honeyed, what feels like slightly botrytised bouquet with touches of pineapple and caramelized pear, pressed yellow flowers and a dab of ginger. The palate is well balanced with some vanillary oak, seductive in some way, obvious in another. It rather masks the terroir expression towards the finish. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.