WINEBOW NOTES ON
Burgundy
The Winebow Imports portfolio represents 12 producers from the following appellations in Burgundy. This guide summarizes some essential information and identifies 2 – 3 core SKUs from each domaine. For more information on these producers, including detailed technical sheets, please visit our website at Winebow.com.
YONNE Domaine Louis Moreau, Chablis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CÔTE DE NUITS Domaine Pierre Gelin, Fixin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Domaine Michel Magnien, Morey-Saint-Denis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Domaine Jean Grivot, Vosne-Romanée . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CÔTE DE BEAUNE Domaine Tollot-Beaut, Chorey-lès-Beaune. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Domaine Xavier Monnot, Meursault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Domaine Alain Chavy, Puligny-Montrachet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Domaine Blain-Gagnard, Chassagne-Montrachet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange, Chassagne-Montrachet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 CÔTE CHALONNAISE Maison Chanzy, Bouzeron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Henri Champliau, Mercurey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 BEAUJOLAIS Domaine Blain Sœur et Frère, Brouilly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 REFERENCES Burgundy Commune Cheat Sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Napoleonic Code & The Monopole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Recent Vintage Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 MAP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 – 21
Domaine Louis Moreau (doh-mehn lu-ee more-oh)
Location: Chablis Established: 1994 Principals: Louis Moreau (winemaker & owner), Anne Moreau (owner) Hectares: 50 KEY POINTS: 1. 6th generation grower in Chablis. Louis received a degree in oenology
from Fresno State and returned to Chablis with Anne in 1994 to take over half of the Moreau family vineyards once leased to a négociant. 2. Domaine Louis Moreau produces Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier
Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru. Since 2004, the Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards have been farmed organically and are hand-harvested. 3. Louis seeks clarity of site in each of his wines and all of his decisions in
the vineyard and cellar are meant to bring out the personality of each terroir. To this end, all wines are vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks.
CORE SKUS: 1. Petit Chablis (peh-tee shaa-blee)
2. Chablis AOC (shaa-blee)
3. Chablis 1er Cru Vau Ligneau (voh-lean-yo)
4
Domaine Pierre Gelin (doh-mehn pyehr zhuh-lahn)
Location: Fixin, Côte de Nuits Established: 1925 Principals: Stéphen and Marie-Odile Gelin (owners), Pierre-Emmanuel Gelin (winemaker & owner) Hectares: 11.45 KEY POINTS: 1. Pierre-Emmanuel is the grandson of Pierre Gelin. He has taken over the
reins from his father and mother, Stéphane and Marie-Odile Gelin, who have run the domaine since 1969. He has an intense interest in organic production and is committed to making pure, honest wines. The winery has been Ecocert organic certified since 2005. 2. Fixin is a small, up and coming appellation in the northern Côte de Nuits.
Fixin offers one of the last great deals in Côte de Nuits red wines. 3. Domaine Pierre Gelin is the most important and prominent domaine
in the appellation with the 1er Cru Les Hervelets holding as well as the only monopole of Fixin, 1er Cru Clos Napoleon (formerly known as aux Cheuzots). 4. The Domaine also has very fine holdings in Gevrey Chambertin
including a tiny parcel of Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru.
CORE SKUS: 1. Fixin (fee-zahn)
2. Fixin Clos Napoléon 1er Cru (Monopole) (fee-zahn kloh na-poh-lee-ahn prehm-yay crew mono-pol)
3. Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur 1er Cru (zheh-vray shahm-behr-tahn kloh pree-yur prehm-yay crew)
5
Domaine Michel Magnien (doh-mehn me-shell man-yen)
Location: Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte de Nuits Established: 1967 Principals: Frédéric Magnien (winemaker), Michel Magnien (owner) Hectares: 18 KEY POINTS: 1. Demeter certified Biodynamic estate run by fifth-generation
Frédéric Magnien who persuaded his father, Michel Magnien, to bottle the family’s wine in 1993. Prior to this, the Magniens sold their grapes to the local cooperative. 2. Holdings are spread across the villages of Morey-Saint-Denis,
Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, and Vosne-Romanée, with several premier cru and grand cru vineyards. 3. Frédéric has completely reinvented the house style by partially aging
the wines in hand-turned terra cotta jars. He also uses much less oak in general, and no new oak starting with the 2015 vintage.
CORE SKUS: 1. Gevrey-Chambertin Les Seuvrées (zheh-vray shahm-behr-than lay soov-ray)
2. Morey-Saint-Denis (more-ay san deh-nee)
3. Morey-Saint-Denis Les Chaffots 1er Cru (more-ay san deh-nee lay sha-foe prehm-yay crew)
6
Domaine Jean Grivot (doh-mehn zhahn gree-voh)
Location: Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits Established: 1930 Principals: Etienne & Marielle Grivot (owner), Mathilde Grivot (winemaker), Hubert Grivot (vineyard manager) Hectares: 15.5 KEY POINTS: 1. Domaine Jean Grivot is one of the great names in Burgundy—Etienne
Grivot and his wife Marielle Bize (Domaine Simon Bize) took over from Etienne’s father in 1987. Today, their daughter Mathilde is the head winemaker and their son Hubert manages the vineyards. 2. One of the first estates in the Côte d’Or to domaine bottle as a guarantee
of authenticity and for quality control. 3. Holdings include the much-lauded premier cru parcels in Beaux Monts
and Suchots in Vosne-Romanée along with grand cru parcels in Clos de Vougeot, Echézeaux, and the famed Richebourg. 4. Sustainable approach with minimal chemical intervention, only when
necessary. The domaine uses two horses to work their grand cru vineyards, no tractors. The grapes are entirely destemmed and coldsoaked for gentle flavor extraction.
CORE SKUS: 1. Vosne-Romanée (vohn roh-ma-nay)
2. Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmois (nwee san zhohrzh leh shar-mwah)
3. Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (kloh duh voo-zhoh grahn crew)
7
Domaine Tollot-Beaut (doh-mehn toh-loh-boh)
Location: Chorey-lès-Beaune, Côte de Beaune Established: 1880 Principals: Jean-Paul Tollot (winemaker), Olivier Tollot (vineyard manager), Nathalie Tollot (commercial director) Hectares: 24 KEY POINTS: 1. This domaine has been passed down through the long lineage of the
Tollot family. Today, cousins Nathalie, Jean-Paul, and Oliver manage all aspects of the family business. 2. Considered one of the most important domaines for Côte de Beaune
red wines, Domaine Tollot-Beaut has helped elevate the quality and reputation of the appellation of Chorey-lès-Beaune. 3. The wines are fruit-forward, ripe, occasionally opulent and
generously oaked. The house style is designed to give pleasure and sheer deliciousness. 4. The Chorey-lès-Beaune punches above its weight and the 1er crus and
grand crus still are values compared with their Côte de Nuits neighbors to the north.
CORE SKUS: 1. Chorey-lès-Beaune (shoh-ray lay bohn)
2. Savigny-lès-Beaune Lavières 1er Cru (sa-vee-nyee-leh-bohn lah-vyehr prehm-yay crew)
3. Aloxe-Corton (uh-loss core-tahn)
8
Domaine Xavier-Monnot (doh-mehn zav-ee-yay mo-no)
Location: Meursault, Côte de Beaune Established: 2005 Principal: Xavier Monnot (winemaker & owner) Hectares: 16.5 KEY POINTS: 1. Domaine Xavier Monnot is the former Domaine René Monnier (Xavier’s
grandfather), one of the most important producers in the village of Meursault with history going back to the mid-18th century. Xavier took over and renamed the domaine in 2005 to Domaine Xavier Monnot. 2. Meursault vineyards with vines from 30 to 60 years old. Very low yields
with bracing acidity throughout all the wines. Moderate use of oak is present but not a dominant component of the wines. 3. Meursault is the primary story, but Xavier’s pinot noir vineyards and
wines are very fine as well. Maranges 1er Cru offers an exceptional value.
CORE SKUS: 1. Meursault Les Chevalières (mehr-so lay sheval-ee-yehr)
2. Meursault Les Charmes 1er Cru (mehr-so kloh lay sharm prehm-yay crew)
3. Maranges Clos de la Fussière 1er Cru (ma-ranzh kloh duh la fwee-see-yehr prehm-yay crew)
9
Domaine Alain Chavy (doh-mehn a-lan sha-vee)
Location: Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune Established: 2003 Principal: Alain Chavy (winemaker & owner) Hectares: 7 KEY POINTS: 1. 4th generation grower in Puligny, Domaine Alain Chavy was created
when Alain and brother Jean-Louis split their father Gerard Chavy’s 14-hectare estate in half. 2. Stylistically produces more restrained wines with high levels of tension
and acidity that evolve slowly and show great complexity with age. 3. One of the few underground cellars in Puligny because of the high-
water table. 4. Practices “lutte raisonnée” (sustainable approach to winemaking with
minimal chemical intervention, only when necessary) with regular plowing for weed control.
CORE SKUS: 1. Puligny-Montrachet (poo-lee-nyee mohn-rah-shay)
2. Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru (poo-lee-nyee mohn-rah-shay lay foh-lah-tyehr)
3. Puligny-Montrachet Champs Gains 1er Cru (poo-lee-nyee mohn-rah-shay lay shom gan prehm-yay crew)
10
Domaine Blain-Gagnard (doh-mehn blan gan-yar)
Location: Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune Established: 1980 Principals: Jean-Marc & Claudine Blain (winemakers & owners) Hectares: 8.3 KEY POINTS: 1. Formed when Jean-Marc Blain married Claudine Gagnard, youngest
daughter of Jacques and Marie-Josèphe of Domaine GagnardDelagrange. Their holdings include three grands crus: Le Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. 2. Jean-Marc is passionate about the geology of his vineyards and is
extremely knowledgeable about the mineral composition of each site. He tailors a variety of organic, biodynamic and lutte raisonnée practices to the unique needs of each vineyard. 3. Jean-Marc uses minimal new oak to retain each wine’s bright fruit and
purity of terroir. To add richness, the lees are stirred weekly through late December.
CORE SKUS: 1. Chassagne-Montrachet (Blanc) (shah-san-yuh mohn-rah-shay blanc)
2. Chassagne-Montrachet La Boudriotte 1er Cru (shah-san-yuh mohn-rah-shay lah boo-dree-oht prehm-yay crew)
3. Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru (Blanc) (shah-san-yuh mohn-rah-shay mohr-zhoh prehm-yay crew blanc)
11
Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange (doh-mehn gan-yar de-lah-granzh)
Location: Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune Established: 1959 Principals: Marc-Antonin Blain (winemaker), Marie-Josèphe Delagrange (owner) Hectares: 3 KEY POINTS: 1. Marie-Josèphe, the widow of Jacques Gagnard, continues her husband’s
legacy with the help of her grandson (Marc-Antonin Blain) as winemaker. 2. Vineyards are farmed with environmentally-friendly practices,
developed by Jacques and continued by his family. 3. Spontaneous fermentation from wild yeast gives complexity to the
wine. Minimal amount of new oak used in aging.
CORE SKUS: 1. Chassagne-Montrachet La Boudriotte 1er Cru (shah-san-yuh mohn-rah-shay lah boo-dree-oht prehm-yay crew)
2. Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (Rouge) (shah-san-yuh mohn-rah-shay prehm-yay crew roozh)
12
Maison Chanzy (may-zon shon-zee)
Location: Bouzeron, Côte Chalonnaise Established: 1974 Principals: Jean-Baptiste and Marc Jessiaume (winemakers through 2019 vintage), Max Blondelle (winemaker beginning with 2019 vintage) Hectares: 66 KEY POINTS: 1. Chanzy owns 66 hectares of vineyards, including in several premier cru
appellations, and is the largest landowner in the Côte Chalonnaise. 2. Chanzy is the sole owner of the only Clos, or walled vineyard, in Bouzeron. 3. Bouzeron is the only communal appellation in France devoted to the
Aligoté grape.
CORE SKUS: 1. Bouzeron Clos La Fortune Monopole (boo-zher-on kloh la four-tune mon-o-pohl)
2. Rully En Rosey Blanc (rue-yee en roz-ay blanc)
3. Rully En Rosey Rouge (rue-yee en roz-ay roozh)
13
Henri Champliau (on-ree shom-plee-o)
Location: Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise Established: 2016 Principals: Alexandre Graffard (winemaker & owner) Hectares: 74 (négociant) KEY POINTS: 1. Henri Champliau is named after the Grandfather of the owner/
winemaker, Alexandre Graffard. In addition to a passion for wine, Henri was a successful breeder and owner of racehorses. 2. As tribute to his grandfather, Alexandre has included two wines in his
signature line named after Henri’s winning horses—“Petrone” Brut and “Wild Miss” Rosé Demi-Sec. 3. The Champliau portfolio offers a precise line of four wines ranging in
style and price, the most notable being the Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Authentique and Brut Rosé which offer a Champagne like experience for a more affordable range.
CORE SKUS: 1. Crémant de Bourgogne Brut (cray-mohn duh boar-gone-yah brewt)
2. Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé (cray-mohn duh boar-gone-yah brewt roz-ay
3. Petrone Blanc de Blancs Brut (peh-trone blanc duh blancs brewt)
14
Domaine Blain Sœur et Frère (doh-mehn blan siyr et frare)
Location: Brouilly, Beaujolais Established: 2014 Principals: Lucie Blain (co-owner), Marc-Antonin Blain (winemaker & co-owner) Hectares: 5.65 KEY POINTS: 1. New project from son, Marc-Antonin, and daughter, Lucie, of Jean-Marc
and Claudine Blain of Domaine Blain-Gagnard. Marc-Antonin also doubles as winemaker at his grandmother’s estate, Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange. 2. Côte de Brouilly is located on higher slopes of the extinct volcano Mont
Brouilly within the Brouilly Cru—known for producing wines of more concentration and structure. 3. Average vine age is over 50 years old. The fruit is hand-harvested, then
transported in refrigerated trucks to Chassagne-Montrachet where it is vinified.
CORE SKUS: 1. Blain Soeur et Frère Brouilly (blan siyr et frare brew-yee)
2. Côte de Brouilly Les Jumeaux (doh-mehn blan siyr et frare coat-duh-brew-yee lay zhew-moe)
3. Côte de Brouilly Pierre Bleue (doh-mehn blan siyr et frare coat-duh-brew-yee pee-yehr bluh)
15
Burgundy Commune Cheat Sheet District
Commune
Description
Yonne
Chablis
Distinctively mineral wines due to cool northerly climate and calcareous Kimmeridgian soil.
Côtes de Nuits
Fixin
Typified by their robust, tannic, sometimes “sauvage” character. 1er Crus are more finessed.
Gevrey-Chambertin
Tends toward concentrated, darker fruits, powerful tannins, and underlying earthiness.
Morey-Saint-Denis
Combines the sturdy structure of Gevrey-Chambertin with ChambolleMusigny perfume.
Chambolle-Musigny
Seductive, refined, perfumed red wines that balance richness and elegance on the palate.
Vougeot
Full-bodied red wines. The majority of the commune is the grand cru, Clos de Vougeot.
Vosne-Romanée
For many, the perfect balance of weight, structure, elegance and longevity in Red Burgundy.
Nuits-Saint-Georges
Earthy red wines that are robust and tannic. Can be more Vosne-like depending on location.
Aloxe-Corton
Reds with structure, weight, and complexity. A small percentage of white is also grown here.
Chorey-lès-Beaune
Red wines that are light and supple with moderate tannins. Red-fruited with bright acidity.
Savigny-lès-Beaune
Red fruited with red floral aromas. Ripe, fleshy red fruit on the palate with moderate tannins.
Côtes de Beaune
16
Burgundy Commune Cheat Sheet continued District
Commune
Description
Côtes de Beaune Continued
Beaune
Reds that strike a middle ground in terms of style. Chardonnay makes up 20% of plantings.
Pommard
Exclusively planted to red grapes. Sturdy, full-bodied, and richly-flavored Pinot Noirs.
Volnay
The most finessed and elegant red wines of the Côte de Beaune marked by floral aromas.
Saint-Aubin
Planted primarily to Chardonnay. Racy and mineral white wines akin to Puligny-Montrachet.
Meursault
Rich, full-bodied white Burgundies with notes of butter, hazelnuts, citrus and minerals.
Puligny-Montrachet
Greater mineral intensity and firmer structure than Chassagne or Meursault. Linear and sharp.
Chassagne-Montrachet
Primarily a white wine village, similar in character to Puligny. Also a good source for red.
Maranges
The southernmost communes of the Côte de Beaune. Medium-bodied red wines with charm.
Santenay
Beaune-like, cherry-fruited red wines, earthy, light to medium-body depending on the vineyard location.
Bouzeron
A small and singular appellation for Aligoté where the variety finds its best expression.
Rully
White and red wines from high hills that are light in body and feature fresh acidity and floral aromas.
Mercurey
The best quality reds from the district, known for a rich palate and solid texture.
Côtes Chalonnaise
17
Burgundy Commune Cheat Sheet continued District
Commune
Description
Côtes Chalonnaise Continued
Montagny
Whites with a little more body and slightly higher acidity than other Chalonnaise appellations.
Mâconnais
Pouilly-Fuissé
Ripe, rich white wines with a mineral backbone thanks to a warmer climate and limestone soils.
Saint-Véran
Rich white wines similar to PouillyFuissé if slightly less mineral due to slightly less limestone.
Brouilly
More fruit-driven and less floral than many of the other Beaujolais crus with plums and berries.
Côte de Brouilly
One of the smallest Crus producing concentrated, structured wines from blue volcanic soils.
Fleurie
Located in the heart of the Beaujolais Cru area, pink granite soils lend delicate floral aromas.
Morgon
Characterized by their dense and fleshy texture and possess an ability to develop well with time in bottle.
Beaujolais
Napoleonic Code and the Rarity of the Monopole The French Revolution (1789 – 1799) brought about the seizure of ecclesiastical and aristocratic lands. Napoleon set out to reform the French legal system and established The French Civil Code in 1804. Among the reforms, the Napoleonic Code stated that property must be split evenly among heirs. Consequently, estates would be divided equally among inheritors and through succeeding generations, vineyards in Burgundy have splintered into small parcels of ownership. Famously, the 50-hectare Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot, once the sole property of the Catholic church, today has 80 owners. A monopole vineyard, one with a single owner, is therefore rare and unique.
18
Recent Vintage Guide White Wines 2019
Very warm, dry, and early. Concentrated, but better overall balance than 2018. Smaller vintage.
2018
Very warm, dry, and early. Excellent overall quality. Plentiful vintage
2017
Excellent quality and quantity.
2016
Seriously delicious, but very short due to frost. Some villages lost 70% of harvest.
2015
Warm weather lead to lower acidity and richer fruit. Less precise than the 2014s.
2014
Cool, damp summer resulted in good acidity levels, although severe June hailstorm reduced yields in Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet.
2013
Very cool, short crop. Fresh and crisp, with “some wines plagued by exotic aromas”.
Red Wines 2019
Very warm, dry, and early. Concentrated, but better overall balance than 2018. Smaller vintage.
2018
Very warm, dry, and early. Excellent overall quality, especially good reds. Plentiful vintage
2017
Excellent quality and quantity.
2016
Ripe and fresh, but less concentrated than 2015. Small vintage, Marsannay lost 90% of harvest due to frost.
2015
Warm weather and low yields led to overall high quality. Potential for aging (dependent on acid levels).
2014
Cool and wet weather resulted in relatively light wines. Yields reduced by infestation of the suzukii fruit fly.
2013
Cool, small vintage of balanced, fresh tasting wines.
19
FRANCE
CÔTE CHANLONNAISE
HAUTES CÔTES DE BEAUNES
Montagny-lès-Buxy
Mercurey
CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE
e ôn Sa la
Puligny-Montrachet Chassagne-Montrachet
Pommard Volnay Meursault
Bouzeron Rully
Gevrey-Chambertin Morey-St-Denis Chambolle-Musigny Vougeot Vosne-Romanée Nuits-Saint-Georges
Chorey-lès Beaune
Fixin
BEAUNE
MÂCONNAIS
Santenay Maranges
St . Aubin
CÔTE DE BEAUNE
Aloxe-Corton Savigny-lès-Beaune
HAUTES CÔTES DE NUITS
CÔTE DE NUITS
DIJON
AUXERRE
Tonnerre
l’ Yon la Turdine
GRAND-AUXERROIS
Irancy
Chablis
GRAND-AUXERROIS
ne
xonne la Vau
res
la S
e enn rév la B
BEAUJOLAIS
BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES
BROUILLY
CÔTE DE BROUILLY
Pouilly Fuisse Saint-Véran SAINTAMOUR
CH ÉN AS M À- OU VE LIN NT
FLEURIE ES CHIROUBLES AG LL I V MORGON ISLA JO RÉGNIÉ U A l’Ar BE diè
ES AG ILL S-V I LA JO AU BE
MÂCON
BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES
la S aôn e
CHABLIS
S NA LIÉ JU
aôn e
ues l’Azerg
l’Azergues
www.winebow.com |
@Winebow
© Imported by Winebow, Inc. New York, NY