2021 Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Combes Blanc

Saint-Aubin is one of Burgundy’s most interesting up-and-coming villages for serious white Burgundy. Traditionally overshadowed by illustrious neighbors like Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin’s Premier Cru vineyards are now producing wines that combine vibrancy with detail — and Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy’s Les Combes is a standout example. 

Bouard-Bonnefoy is a family-driven estate rooted in Chassagne-Montrachet, known for handcrafted, expressive white Burgundies. Though their reputation is anchored in Chassagne, they also farm prized parcels in neighboring Saint-Aubin, and the Les Combes vineyard is one of their most significant holdings. 

Les Combes sits high on a steep slope with cooler eastern exposure, giving it a naturally elevated acidity and tension not always found in Burgundy. The result is a wine with immediacy and precision.

From vineyard to bottle, this wine reflects a hands-on artisanal approach. The grapes are hand-picked at optimal ripeness, and in the cellar a hand-cranked wood press gently extracts juice, ensuring purity without extraction bruising. Indigenous yeasts drive fermentation, and the wine is aged on fine lees for roughly a year in older French oak barrels. The oak supports texture without overt toastiness.

In the glass, Les Combes is energetic and refined — not big or opulent, but detailed and long. The cool site and careful farming give tight acidity and saline lift, while the textured palate hints at orchard fruit and citrus, kept in perfect equilibrium through the finish. 

This wine is one of those rare Burgundies that works beautifully right now and will continue to become more compelling with time in the bottle. It has enough structure to pair with richer seafood, creamy poultry dishes, and herb-forward cuisine, but its freshness also makes it a joy on its own