France, Burgundy

One of the great family domaines of the Côte d'Or, housed in the remarkable manor house at Savigny, with excellent holdings in Savigny itself and in neighbouring Pernand and on the hill of Corton. Organic since 1988 and, now, biodynamic (fully certified by Demeter and Ecocert). It is run by brother and sister François and Claude de Nicolaÿ. As François explains, they do not make 'bêtes de concours' or competition wines, but ones you drink. They have over the last few years progressed the renewal of the barrels of the domaine - there is still very little actual new wood, 5% new wood on the premiers crus, and 10% on the Grands crus, but they have replaced the oldest barrels which they have come to understand did have an effect of closing the wines down.