Côte Chalonnaise

Usually this wine spends 12 months in barrel, but they decided to go earlier in 2022 as they were so short in 2021. Erell said they could get away with this because fortunately it is a delightfully forward vintage. On th...(read more)

Brilliant ruby. Elegant cherry cordial with medley of small red fruits and notes of undergrowth, hint of reduction; balanced acidity and polished tannins. A rich, approachable Pinot Noir fermented in 20% new French oak,...(read more)

Bought it in 2016. This is their biggest single holding. 2.5 HA. 4 parts: some planted in 80s, 70s and 00s. Low on slope, and clay-rich soils. Grapes here are abundant with thick skins, so Pierre is really careful with t...(read more)

Smells more loaded, more full on than the Chaponniere. Much broader, deep with fruit - again that acidity though. Really impressive. Nicely ripe - but perfectly lifted. Acid not really from the early harvest - as everyth...(read more)

Mid crimson. Deliciously scented with non-sweet dark-red fruit. Such fine tannins but they really frame the fresh fruit to a T. Vibrant, fresh and rounded on the finish.

(from vines planted in 1972 and raised in ~60% new oak). More evident wood influence can be found on the spicy if decidedly less expressive nose of various dark berries, warm earth and a violet top note. The palate impre...(read more)

The 2023 Vasées was mid-racking when we visited - we had to straddle the pipes in the cellar as the wine was withdrawn from the barrels and put into the large inox tank for blending. We tasted just the younger vin...(read more)

Mid crimson. Riper and darker-fruited than the Clos des Grands Voyens. The fruit is rich but fresh, deep, generous, framed by firm, youthful tannins. Needs more time.

Cask sample. Mid crimson. Darker fruited than the Rully Marissou but still so fragrant and just a touch, nicely, stemmy. Dry, gently chewy tannins. Modulated, long

One of their hotter sites, more on the limestone. You feel the intensity of the older vines here, compared with the youthful charm of those in the Teppe des Cheneves. Fantastic energy and drive - great line of acidity ru...(read more)

Bigger, riper and richer than the Les Crets. Not sweet though - not overly done. The fruit is pert with red accent and some nice baked plum. Some toast too and nice spicy notes. Polished core. Some savoury edges too - ge...(read more)

Vines approx. 35 years old. Francois ripped up all the older vines of big, productive grapes and planted after doing a massal selection. Much darker nose, blacker, mulchier fruit, with some rosehips. Great concentration...(read more)