Chandon de Briailles : Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er cru "Aux Fournaux" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Aux Fournaux" 2023 by Chandon de Briailles

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a hue ranging from deep cherry to violet-tinged garnet.

Nose
Airy and remarkably precise, the nose first reveals delicate aromas of cherry candy, juicy raspberry and black cherry. It then opens onto floral notes of rose and violet, rounded out by subtle touches of tobacco and gunflint.

Palate
The palate stands out for its fluidity and freshness, offering a silky texture with remarkably fine tannins. Both generous and complex, the mid-palate unfolds spicy notes while retaining an elegance free of heaviness. The finish lingers on a lovely minerality reminiscent of gunpowder and gunflint.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with traditional dishes such as pot-au-feu or duck hachis parmentier. It will also pair beautifully with poultry, white meats served with a light cream sauce, mushroom dishes, or feathered game such as pheasant and partridge.

The Elegance and Precision of a Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru

The Estate

Founded in 1834 by Countess Chandon de Briailles and Pierre Guillemot, the Chandon de Briailles estate is a historic figure of Burgundy. Located to the north of Beaune, the estate spans 13.7 hectares. A pioneer of sustainable viticulture, the estate turned to biodynamics at an early stage. Today, the estate still belongs to the founding family, represented by Count and Countess Aymard-Claude de Nicolay. Management is now handled by their children, Claude and François de Nicolay, who carry on this expertise with an approach that respects the terroir.

The Vineyard

The climat "Aux Fournaux", located within the Savigny-lès-Beaune appellation, takes its name from the remains of old coal stoves. The vines, around 35 years old, grow at an altitude of between 250 and 400 metres on clay-limestone soils. The lower part of the plot is dominated by deep clay soils, while the higher slopes are more limestone-based. Benefiting from excellent sun exposure, this vineyard is cultivated according to the principles of biodynamics, with deliberately limited yields and hand-picked harvests.

The Vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild winter, followed by a spring that alternated between warm and cool spells, slightly delaying the growing cycle. Flowering took place in excellent conditions in early June. While July was marked by some instability and very localised hail episodes, the end of summer brought generous sunshine and warm temperatures. These ideal conditions accelerated the ripening of the berries, leading to an early harvest starting in early September.

Winemaking and Aging

For the "Aux Fournaux" 2023 cuvée, fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, without temperature control. The estate favours whole-cluster winemaking, with an extended maceration of three to four weeks punctuated by pumping-over followed by hand punching-down. The wines are then transferred by gravity. Aging takes place over a period of 14 to 18 months, or even longer, in foudres and old barrels, with no new oak used, in order to preserve the authentic expression of the terroir.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir