Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve with smoked deviled eggs

“We must never forget that wine is a luxury product, not a necessity,” said Albéric Bichot in 2020 (source). Albéric Bichot is head of the house of Albert Bichot, one of the four largest traditional wine merchants in Burgundy, and one that has been family business for six generations.  “We can get by without luxuries, especially if they are harmful. It is totally reasonable that society expects grape growers to be accountable for the pesticides they use. In the vineyard we need a change of mindset.” 

We are talking today about his Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve because hot on the heels of Prosecco Week (read here) is Sparkling Wine Week the first week of July! While Prosecco may be the most popular sparkling wine in the world, Crémant, a traditionally made sparkling wine from France, also offers affordable bubbles making for summer fun for a gathering with friends and family during an afternoon, brunch, or dinner. While perfectly suitable for a seafood dinner,for our summer afternoon Sue and I went with savory smoked hardboiled eggs deviled with mayo and mustard and topped with capers and black olive tapenade with a side of salt and black pepper potato chips. 

Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve

While Albert Bichot is a large operation and while you will not see an organic certification on this bottle of Crémant, rest assured that Albéric Bichot is committed to growing grapes sustainably and as organically as possible working also by hand in the vineyards. He does so because it is better for the planet overall, and for his vineyards and workers (who he calls colleagues), and many of his vineyards are certified organic.

Since 2014, Albert Bichon has had 36 hectares of vineyard in Côte-de-Nuits, Côte-de-Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise with organic certification from Ecocert, in 2019 65 hectares of Domaine Long-Depaquit in Chablis certified as Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) – Level 3, the highest level, and 30 hectares of purchased grapes are farmed organically. The result is that wines from 47 different appellations are certified as organic possibly the most in Burgundy; other wines, like this cremant, may not be certified but contains grapes grown conscientiously. 

Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve with smoked deviled eggs

Sparkling Wine

• Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve

Menu

• Salt and Black Pepper Kettle Chips (known to use organic potatoes)
• Smoked Deviled Eggs (organic) with Capers and Olive Tapenade 

Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve

Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve

SRP: $25
ABV: 12.5%
Grapes: Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%)
Importer: Albert Bichot USA LLC

The uncertified organic grapes are grown on calcareous clay soil in Châtillonnais, Côte Chalonnaise et Mâconnais, Beaune. Made with  15 % reserve wine, aging is  90% in stainless steel tanks and 6 months in barrels for 10% of the cuvée, with aging on laths 18 to 20 months of maturation in bottle with a dosage of 7 g/l, they suggest drinking it within five years for best quality.  

Appearance:  Pale gold, straw gold, very sparkly, catches the light beautifully. 

Aroma: Brioche, apple danish, grass, baking spices. 

Palate: Lemon lime, green apple, croissant, sage or mint on the finish, soft delicate bubbles caress the palate as the wine rolls across it. 

Pairing: The salty potato chip sweetens the wine beautifully, also nice with the spicy pepper on the chips, the egg accentuates the salinity in the wine, great easy appetizers to go with the wine, or make an egg salad sandwich with potato chips on the side for an easy lunch pairing. 

Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve with smoked deviled eggs