Chandon de Briailles : Aloxe-Corton 1er cru "Les Valozières" 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru "Les Valozières" 2022 Chandon de Briailles

Tasting

Colour
Clear and bright, the medium-intensity ruby colour reveals subtle garnet hues.

Nose
The bouquet opens with delicate floral notes of violet, quickly joined by pronounced blackcurrant aromas. The whole is rounded out by a fine mineral complexity evoking undergrowth and damp earth.

Palate
The palate stands out for its freshness and generosity, supported by fine, refined tannins. The balance between the fruit, acidity and a pronounced mineral backbone offers a harmonious and well-structured tasting experience.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with characterful meats such as furred or feathered game, a côte de bœuf or roast lamb. It also pairs very well with vegetarian dishes based on mushrooms or beetroot, characterful soft cheeses such as Époisses, as well as bitter chocolate desserts.

Service and Storage

To fully appreciate this wine, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 15 and 17°C. With its fine structure, it has excellent ageing potential, allowing it to develop further complexity over time in the cellar.

The Pure and Mineral Expression of a Premier Cru from Aloxe-Corton

The Estate

Established in 1834 in Savigny-lès-Beaune, in Burgundy, the Chandon de Briailles estate is a historic family-owned property. Now run by siblings Claude and François de Nicolay, the estate has become an essential reference point in the Côte de Beaune. Deeply committed to environmental responsibility, the estate chose to fully convert to biodynamic viticulture, certified in 2011. Working the soils with draft horses and a philosophy of minimal intervention in the cellar allow the estate to produce authentic wines that reflect the purity of their terroirs.

The Vineyard

The "Les Valozières" plot represents a 0.287-hectare micro-terroir located within the Aloxe-Corton appellation. East-facing and perched between 200 and 300 metres in altitude, the vines thrive on soil composed of a surface layer of clay resting on a limestone subsoil rich in flint. Entirely cultivated using biodynamic methods, this vineyard is worked with draft horses to preserve the soils' microbial life. Yields are deliberately limited to concentrate the quality of the berries.

The Vintage

2022 was marked by exceptionally hot, dry and sunny weather conditions. Despite this extreme climate, the growing cycle unfolded optimally, resulting in a generous and abundant harvest. The grapes' health proved to be perfect, allowing for the harvest of berries with exceptional physiological ripeness.

Winemaking and Aging

The manual harvest took place early. After careful sorting, vinification was carried out with 70% destemmed grapes and 30% whole clusters. Fermentation started naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, followed by a 15- to 17-day maceration punctuated by manual pumping-over and punching-down. Ageing then continued for around 15 months in French oak barrels, only 35% of which were new. The wine is bottled by gravity, without fining and with very light filtration.

Grape Variety

Pinot Noir (100%).