6 wines from some of the brightest wines minds of Burgundy. 1 bottle of each included in the pack.
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Sylvain Pataille Marsannay 2019
Sylvain Pataille was born and bred in Marsannay, His great grandfather was a vigneron, though most of the family vines were sold before his grandfather came of age. A former lab oenologist, and now consultant to over 19 big-name domaines throughout Burgundy, he started his own domaine from nothing in 1999 and has built it up into a source of lovely, vibrant wines.
No one has done more for the reputation of Marsannay. Although he has no interest in a ‘natural winemaker’ badge, his aim is to use as little sulphur as possible, it takes a great deal of work in the vineyard and cellar to ensure that he can work this way. He uses an old vertical press, inherited from his grandfather, that presses very slowly over six to eight hours. Pataille describes his approach in the cellar as the “new old style”. Long maturations are a key feature. The top wines are aged for up to 24 months and new oak is used sparingly.
This Marsannay Villages comes from five different parcels. The oldest vines in the cuvée date from 1949. It opens compact and smoky before unfurling in fleshy layers of nectarine and creamy citrus, while the palate offers a terrific balance of freshness and flesh. Overall, it’s a complex and expressive wine with a lovely, precise finish. The secret’s out with his wines now despite the relative value on offer, getting hold of these bottles is getting increasingly difficult with each vintage as they’re so damn good.
Amaury Beaufort Chablis 2020
Tall and thoughtful, Amaury Beaufort is at once a veteran Champagne vigneron and a débutant. After completing viticultural studies in Beaune in 2005, he worked many years for his family estate, Champagne André Beaufort, helping ensure the succession to his own generation. He broke away to continue farming solo, establishing Domaine Amaury Beaufort in 2018. He now farms 0.88ha of fifty-year-old vines in Polisy, bordered on two sides by woodland and otherwise by vineyards his brothers farm for Champagne André Beaufort.
His Chablis is from negociant fruit farmed organically by the famed Dauvissat family. Aged in a combination of 2/3/4 fill ex champagne barrels it’s rich and citric, fleshy and vibrant. Wonderful Chablis.
Maison Valette Macon-Chaintre Vielles Vignes 2017
Baptiste and Philippe Valette continue on in their father Gerard’s footsteps by producing incredible wines, packed with personality. The Valettes do a huge amount of work amongst the vines to maximise the expression of their terroir and Valette's wines are noted for their concentration. Vines average 45 years over the entire property and we all know what vine age contributes to fine wine. The grapes are picked fully ripe producing rich but very fresh and mineral wines with fabulous complexity and also great ageing potential.
The Macon Chaintre Vielles Vignes is from vines averaging 65 years old. The 2017 is extremely expressive, rich, and complex. It can take hours to unravel its fleshy potential, so decant as far in advance of drinking as you can! Zero So2.
Philippe Pacalet Gevrey Chambertin 2018
Born into wine, Philippe Pacalet is the nephew of Marcel Lapierre, historical producer of Beaujolais, who worked with his uncle from a young age, and spent 10 years at Prieure Roch. In 2001, Philippe started his own project. With no money and no land, all he had was the experience he cultivated, and with patience he rented plots where he could work the vines. Whole bunch fermentation creates the balance and the elegance of all his wines. Keeping the stems also reduces the alcohol content slightly. Peppery and vegetal on the nose, the sturdiness unfolds into lavender florals on the palate. Easy to drink, quintessentially Pacalet with approachability in youth but built to age, a long finish and a bitterness reminiscent of Piemontese Nebbiolo.
Domaine de Chassorney Saint-Romain ‘Sous Roche’ 2020
Frédéric Cossard created his domaine in 1996, deciding to adhere to strict principles, namely respect for the soil and the vine, and the most natural possible expression of the terroir.
This Saint-Romain comes from a sloping vineyard (Sous Roche) known for its production of mineral, nervy wines. The limestone allows the Pinot Noir to express its characteristic freshness and delicacy of red fruits, cherries and delicate tannin profile. A serious wine form a not-so-serious Burgundian.
Sylvain Pataille Bourgogne Rouge 2019
Sylvain Pataille was born and bred in Marsannay, His great grandfather was a vigneron, though most of the family vines were sold before his grandfather came of age. A former lab oenologist, and now consultant to over 19 big-name domaines throughout Burgundy, he started his own domaine from nothing in 1999 and has built it up into a source of lovely, vibrant wines. No one has done more for the reputation of Marsannay. Although he has no interest in a ‘natural winemaker’ badge, his aim is to use as little sulphur as possible, it takes a great deal of work in the vineyard and cellar to ensure that he can work this way. He uses an old vertical press, inherited from his grandfather, that presses very slowly over six to eight hours. Pataille describes his approach in the cellar as the “new old style”. Long maturations are a key feature. The top wines are aged for up to 24 months and new oak is used sparingly. Pataille’s Bourgogne Rouge is a blend of parcels in Marsannay and the Haute Côtes, covering just over one hectare in total. There are plenty of old vines in the mix, including one parcel planted in 1956. Each parcel is vniified separately before blending. For the most part, Pataille’s Bourgogne Rouge sits at the pretty and crunchy end of the spectrum yet 2019 is slightly fleshier in style than usual, with brambly depth and potency.