Sometimes in the world of wine, it pays to be prudent. Just ask Clèment Lavallée, whose caution led him to take the helm of the family business with considerable circumspection. He was amply experienced, with a CV that boasted his education in viticulture and several years of expertise at Domaine Verret (Saint-Bris), Domaine des Terres de Velle (Auxey-Duresses), Armand Heitz (Chassagne-Montrachet), Château Margaux (Bordeaux), Domaine Chapoutier (Rhône), and Rutherglen (Australia). Impressive, isn't it? Nevertheless, when it came to venturing out on his own, Clément Lavallée opted to start with just 1.5 hectares out of the 23 bequeathed by his father. "Too vast to commence with." This was in 2019. Since then, and following the positive outcomes achieved, Clément—with the aid of his sister Caroline—have been gradually expanding their dominion, steadily mastering the finest plots of the estate. One such plot is Pariot, where the esteemed Clément Lavallée Bourgogne Aligoté Pariot Blanc is crafted.
Compact in size (perhaps one of the smallest terrains), yet brimming with clay and limestone soils, it serves as the ideal setting for cultivating the exquisite aligoté grapes that go into this white wine. Generally, the berries are not overly large, but they exhibit an impeccable balance between sugar and acidity. Achieving this zenith is no small feat, only possible in venerable vineyards (in this instance, around 35 years old), where the vines are deemed sufficiently mature, yielding both high-quality fruit and robust performance. When you combine this caliber with organic farming practices, devoid of insecticides or chemical products, the result is nothing short of sublime.
In the winery, Clément Lavallée Bourgogne Aligoté Pariot Blanc undergoes fermentation with indigenous yeasts, eschewing the addition of sulfur, and benefits from a dual aging process: part in stainless steel and part in used barrels. Moreover, throughout its vinification, Clément Lavallée Bourgogne Aligoté Pariot Blanc is racked by gravity alone, avoiding the use of any machinery or pumping, significantly enhancing the wine's organoleptic properties.
The adage goes that a cautious person is worth two, but in the case of Clèment Lavallée, this value exponentially increases to fourfold... And when it comes to Clément Lavallée Bourgogne Aligoté Pariot Blanc, we need not say more! Few whites hold as much merit. So hurry! The production is exceedingly limited!