Beaune 1er Cru Aux Coucherias AOP 2022

Wine Description for Beaune 1er Cru Aux Coucherias AOP 2022 by Boris Champy

Colour & Appearance

Deep ruby red with an almost black core – a visually powerful presence that already hints at the intensity of this Premier Cru vineyard site.

Nose

One of the darkest, tannin-driven Pinots from Burgundy 2022. The nose reveals leather, tobacco and high-cocoa chocolate, underpinned by deep, dark fruit: amarena cherry, mulberries and plums. An aromatic profile that combines power with Burgundian finesse.

Palate

Gripping and creamy at once – the fine-knit tannins display a low-pile, almost unforced attractive astringency. Behind this, extract-rich, generous fruit with an almost sweet core. Medium-bodied, taut in character, yet always with impeccable manners. An expressive, yet accessible Burgundy of the new school, bearing Boris Champy’s modern signature.

Finish

Persistent with fine tannin structure and dark-fruited aftertaste that maintains the tension between power and elegance right to the end.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Aux Coucherias (named after the sunset over the vineyards) lies on a steep west-facing slope on extremely red, clay-rich limestone soil. Part of the parcel opens up amphitheatre-like in an old quarry – isolated by walls and Mediterranean vegetation such as gorse. The Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, once considered cool, represent for Champy the future of climate-change-affected Burgundy.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pinot Noir hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. Gentle extraction with 15% whole bunches in wooden barrels, 12 months maturation in 50% new barrels. Biodynamically farmed since 1983 – the first Demeter-certified estate in Burgundy.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Roasted cauliflower with cacao nibs and tahini, pan-fried grey mullet on cauliflower couscous with cacao beurre blanc or wild boar bratwurst with spring cabbage. The chocolate and tobacco notes harmonise perfectly with earthy, umami-rich dishes.

Special Features

Boris Champy, formerly with Dominus, Louis Latour and Clos de Lambrays, continues the biodynamic tradition of the Domaine founded in 1984. At just 12.5% alcohol, a prime example of freshness and elegance despite impressive concentration.