2021 Domaine Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Rouge "La Taupe", Burgundy , France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Chavy-Chouet's Pinot Noir is classified as humble Bourgogne Rouge, but the fruit for it comes from an excellent single-vineyard site near Pommard. La Taupe's parcel was once part of the Pommard AOC.

100% destemmed. Very little intervention. Less pigeage (punch down) but some remontage (pump over). Aged 10 months in French oak barrels (10% new)

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine Chavy-Chouet is a 15-hectare estate in Burgundy spread over 5 communes in the Côte de Beaune: Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, St. Aubin, Volnay, and Pommard. Although the Domaine has been family-owned and managed for seven generations, it has only been since Romaric Chavy succeeded his father (Hubert) in 2014, that the wines have achieved top-tier status, and that Romaric has been hailed as among the rising stars in Burgundy.

The Domaine’s vineyards, with vines generally exceeding 40 years of age, descend largely through Romaric’s grandfather, a vineyard owner in Puligny-Montrachet, and his grandmother, who hailed from Meursault’s Ropiteau family. Until 1982, when Romaric’s father starting bottling a few cuvees, the family sold all the fruit under contract to Bouchard Père et Fils. In 2006, when Romaric joined his father at the estate, they began making and bottling all of their wine.

The Domaine is essentially organic (not certified) and follows the principals of lutte raisonée. The regimen is resolutely non-interventionist and includes plowing. After harvest and triage, the fruit is lightly pressed and allowed to settle. The must is then passed by gravity into tank and fermented over indigenous yeasts. To maintain purity, there is no batonage. The wine ages on its lees in Gillet barrels (maximum of 20% new) for 9-12 months and is bottled unfined and with only light filtration if necessary.