2022 Domaine Michel Lafarge Beaune 1er Cru "Les Aigrots" Blanc

The 2022 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Aigrots Blanc offers up aromas of minty pear, apple, white flowers and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, ample and incisive, with tangy acids and a penetrating finish, this has turned out especially well. The 2022 vintage was showing well during my annual barrel tasting chez Lafarge, emphasizing the charming, pretty side of the year. The team began picking on August 26, another early harvest. As usual, reds were destemmed, in some cases manually, and élevage is taking place in predominantly used barrels, with the Lafarge's habitual racking with aeration. The result is wines with a resolutely old-school style that have a good track record of evolving gracefully in the cellar.(WK)

The 2022 Beaune Blanc Clos des Aigrots 1er Cru is the only white cuvée with some new oak (10%), more to maintain the rotation of barrels. A more floral nose with pressed white flowers and a touch of Turkish delight, this blossoms in the glass. The palate is very well-balanced with a keen thread of acidity. Unlike the Meursaults, however, it doesn't quite kick on towards the finish, where it feels a little conservative.(NM)