Red Still Wine | France | Burgundy | Savigny-Les-Beaune | 75cl
£39.95
/
£239.70
£227.72 case
ABV: 13%
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Cork
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Sub-Region: Savigny-Les-Beaune
Wine Style: Medium Bodied
Grape: Pinot Noir
This wine offers a sleek, silky texture with red cherry, raspberry, and a whisper of spice. Elegant and vibrant, it invites a quiet moment of reflection. Perfect with roast chicken or light charcuterie, it’s a wine to slow down and savour, capturing the essence of Burgundy’s finesse. Ideal for an intimate dinner, offering pure pleasure and refined character
*****
Benjamin Leroux made a name for himself at Domaine du Comte Armand where he was general manager until 2014. He found time to launch his own label in 2007 and now produces wines from over 50 vineyards. Apart from seven hectares owned by the domaine, he buys grapes from trusted organic or biodynamic growers. All the wines are treated with the same meticulous approach, so there is no differentiation on the label.
This wine is from Conardises and Fourneaux, with only the latter receiving whole bunch, so under 10 percent. One barrel of Conardises was raised without SO2. The wine has a good sense of sunny warmth, without sacrificing its juicy crunchiness.
Jasper Morris MW - 90-92 points - "Glowing purple, a beautiful bouquet, lifted stylish, with the slight savoury edge of good Savigny. Light raspberry and strawberry with an excellent balance of acidity. Very good indeed. 13.5%" Drink 2026 - 2032.
The growing season of 2021 presented numerous challenges, including frost, rain, mildew, rot, and hail. We were initially hesitant about the potential quality of the vintage, given these adverse conditions. However, upon tasting the wines, we were pleasantly surprised to find that they had gained depth and weight since the spring. Our tasting notes consistently highlighted bright, fresh, pure, delicate, perfumed, and energetic characteristics, with distinct terroir differences.
One of the growers mentioned that in the past, one in every five vintages was a "hot" year, while currently, the reverse is true, with one in five vintages being a "cool" year. A mild winter and warm March led to early vine growth, with budbreak occurring in April. However, the region was hit by a severe frost that affected even the sloped areas, which are typically spared in spring frosts. The frost caused the vines to shut down for about three weeks, leading to reduced yields, particularly in the Cote du Beaune, which saw a reduction of 65-80%, while the Cote du Nuit experienced a 50% reduction.
Disease pressure grew in the vineyards during the cooler and wet early summer, with mildew and odium further diminishing the yield. The month preceding harvest brought dry and warm weather, which greatly aided the harvest. Harvest took place in mid-September, a full month later than in 2020. Alexandrine Roy shared the following image, to demonstrate the high quality of grapes, with patient and thorough sorting both in the vineyard and at the sorting table.
The use of new oak varied significantly in 2021, with some growers opting for no new oak. It was difficult for some growers who make wines in small amounts to keep the usual ratios of oak, as the quantities were so small. Whole bunch use was lower than usual for the red wines, as growers sought to avoid extracting bitterness from unripe stems. Pump overs were used more frequently than punch downs. Experienced growers, who took their foot off the pedal and expressed what the vintage gave them succeeded.
The small yields of 2021 resulted in naturally concentrated wines, with the whites exhibiting intense citrus and floral aromas, and the reds displaying bright, light bodies and lovely perfumes. Both the white and red wines are highly seductive and ready to drink straight from the barrel. Due to the low yields, prices have increased. Allocating these wines will be difficult, but we are fortunate to have the excellent 2022 vintage in both yield and quality to follow.
