Description

On the gravel soils of Beaune sits this well regarded Premier Cru vineyard. Ripe, dense, tightly wound and mineral. The palate is clean with a core of lovely fruit that is just waiting to unpack. Drink from now but leave until after 2020 for the best result. Pair with oeuf meurette.

Everything about this fine Domaine is attractive – even the elaborately decorated concrete cuves. The Tollot’s and the Beaut’s have remained together for many generations and therefore have maintained excellent and valuable vineyard holdings. The younger generation – cousins Nathalie, Jean-Paul and Olivier direct the Domaine. They have made substantial changes in the past few years and quality has risen at this progressive and fine Domaine. Always a consistent source of delightful and serious Burgundy that represents very good value coupled with wonderfully stylish presentation.

Burgundy – The classic part of Burgundy known as the Cote D’Or (the slope of gold) is essentially one vineyard that is 60km long and maybe 5km at its widest. From this limestone ridge some of the most complex, long-lived and aromatic wines are produced from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Cistercian monks who owned the land codified the entire region and so each small plot has a name.

Beaune – Historically an important trading town with large vineyard area, numerous Premier Cru sites but not one Grand Cru. The wines are sturdy, if a bit clumsy, in a soft and pretty style.

Pinot Noir – This is the most elusive grape. It is relatively early ripening and extremely sensitive to terroir. Its perfect place on earth is the Cote d’Or in Burgundy. So haunting are great red Burgundy’s charms that growers everywhere try to emulate them. Pinot Noir is not just a one trick pony, it can make great reds, rosé, sparkling and even sweet wines, whites on occasion and I’ve tasted a decent fortified Pinot Noir too.