2021 Marsannay Blanc

“Scooby Doobie Doo, where are you?” Well, Pataille’s dog by that very name is walking down the street in Marsannay to join us for the tasting down in his cellar. “We started the picking on 24 September in Clos du Roy but with a big team of pickers three days later,” Pataille tells me. “There was no new moon, so this was good for the spread of rot. The 2021s are much stronger than we thought. I try to use the least SO2 as possible. The wines will be bottled at the end of the year. I think the second winter will stretch the wines.” These are exemplary wines from the vigneron that have been instrumental in changing people’s opinion towards Aligoté. However, it's forgotten that he has a commendable range of assorted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Prices remain very reasonable in the context of the Côte d’Or. I am intrigued to learn that he will rent new space on Dijon's outskirts next year, enabling Pataille to conduct a longer élevage. That will indeed have some bearing on his wines.