The 2012 Beaune du Chateau 1er Cru Blanc comes from four climats each with their own character. It has a light peach skin and honeysuckle bouquet that is well-defined, but needs time to open in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry with light spicy notes, a little more phenolic than the nose suggests, but with plenty of race and breeding on the finish. Fine. Drink 2015-2025. Although I tasted the wines of this Burgundy grand maison in London, I spent a morning with winemaker Philippe Prost to go through at least part of their large portfolio to get an insight into Bouchard Pere & Fils. Ever since Michel Bouchard established the house in 1731, it has been a permanent fixture in Burgundy, surviving seizure by the State after the Revolution, phylloxera, two World Wars and periods when the world simply was uninterested in Burgundy. Today they own 130 hectares of vines, more than any Bordeaux chateau, including 12 grand crus and 74 premier crus. Importer: Henriot Inc. and John E. Fells in the UK.