FIXIN

2021 Les Échalais Domaine Derey Frères

IN STOCK
Grapes Pinot Noir
Colour Red
Origin France, Burgundy
District Côte d'Or
Sub-district Côte de Nuits
Village Fixin
ABV 13%
Vineyard Les Échalais

A vineyard in the north east sector of Fixin, on clay and blue marl - very old vines planted by the boys' grandfather in the early 1960s. They use 20-25% whole bunches here, and are careful with the extraction as it's inclined to be quite light but can tannic if pushed too hard - it's nicely fresh, aromatic and supple too. Drinking range: 2023 - 2030 L&S (Oct 2022)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

A discreet but still discernible hint of crushed leaf character is present on the slightly riper aromas of plum, red currant and fennel. There is very good richness and volume to the delicious middleweight flavors that also conclude in a slightly lean, rustic and youthfully austere finale. Drinking range: 2027 - Rating: 87 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2023)

The vines date back to 1959 but have been separated out from the Vieilles Vignes this year. Mid crimson colour, plenty of whole bunches have made the nose a little more fragile. A bit drier behind, with a medium weight of fruit. Some Fixin rusticity but an impressive persistence nonetheless. Drinking range: 2025 - 2028 Rating: 88 Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy  (Nov 2022)

Domaine Derey Frères

Domaine Derey Frères has its cellar in the village of Couchey, between Marsannay and Fixin. The family's vigneron background can be traced back to 1650, but it was called Derey Frères only from the 1950s, with the establishment of the domaine as it is now when brothers Albert and Maurice worked together. Fifth generation Pierre Derey, while keeping an eye on things, has ceded to the this sixth generation, his sons Maxime, Romain and Pierre-Marie, who seem to work well as a team in vineyard and cellar - so the domaine's name has never been more appropriate.

The brothers have 20 hectares of vines, spread from the edge of Dijon to Gevrey Chambertin. There are Bourgogne Rouges from the historic vineyards of the Dukes of Burgundy which are relics of the historic Dijon vineyards, now mostly part of the town. The core of the domaine could be said to be the ten hectares in Marsannay, while the vineyards in Fixin and Gevrey Chambertin complete the range.

In the vineyard the brothers have turned the whole domaine into organic conversion - the first certified wines will be from the 2023 harvest. Winemaker Maxime has experimented with some whole bunches, ranging from 20% top 100%, quite quick alcoholic fermentations, with or without the addition of sulphites, and usually with indigenous yeasts, but with no fixed recipe - it all depends on the year. The wines are then aged for between 12 and 18 months with an average of 25% new barrels (up to 40% in the top wines).

The result is wines which they say are in the image of the three brothers - 'instinctive, frank and spontaneous', with immediate pleasure from a juicy fruit which dominates, but which will not prevent the wines from aging well.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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