When one of the world’s top white wine producers takes on Chardonnay’s tricky yet increasingly trendy sibling, Aligoté, can the result be anything less than exceptional?
Clotilde Davenne is best known in Sweden for her acclaimed sparkling wine, Clotilde Davenne Crémant de Bourgogne—a wine that has been named Sparkling Wine of the Year multiple times and has received nearly every award a wine can earn. However, Clotilde primarily produces still wines, especially white wines from Chablis and the broader Burgundy region. It’s no surprise she has earned the title “Queen of Chablis.”
But what’s the deal with Aligoté, you might ask?
While Aligoté is praised for its vibrant freshness and adaptability in the vineyard, it lacks the complexity of its more famous sibling and is less suited for oak aging. As a result, it has never reached the same level of recognition—at least not in terms of mainstream popularity. But speak to winemakers in Burgundy, and you’ll hear a different story. Here, Aligoté is celebrated for producing crisp, easy-drinking white wines with enticing notes of linden blossom, acacia, apple, citrus, hazelnut, and peach.
One of Aligoté’s biggest advocates is Aubert de Villaine of Romanée-Conti—the legendary estate behind the world’s most coveted (and expensive) wines. And with that kind of endorsement, does the grape really need any further validation?
Despite strong local appreciation, support from legends like Aubert de Villaine, and a growing following among young wine enthusiasts, Aligoté remains remarkably affordable. How long that will last is anyone’s guess. But why worry about the future? Now is the perfect time to enjoy this gem at its still-reasonable price.
Aligoté, depending on the clone, is a relatively high-yielding variety, requiring careful management to achieve top-quality results. Unfortunately, many producers have historically prioritized quantity over quality, which has hurt the grape’s reputation. Yet well-crafted Aligoté has always existed—snapped up quickly by those in the know. Only now is Bourgogne Aligoté beginning to gain broader recognition.
And this is where Clotilde Davenne’s precision and dedication shine. “Crisp acidity, fresh aromas and flavors, and a long, clean finish”—this description applies to nearly all her wines. Her latest release, Bourgogne Aligoté, is no exception. It showcases both her signature purity and the grape’s classic expression, with aromas of linden blossom, green and yellow apples, hazelnuts, citrus, and peach.
In short, if you’re looking for an elegant, outstanding-value white wine—made from one of the trendiest grapes of the moment—this may just be the perfect choice.
Clotilde Davenne’s new Aligoté is available now at Systembolaget.
