Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune rouge Bignon 421 AOP 2023

Wine Description for Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune rouge Bignon 421 AOP 2023 by Boris Champy

Colour & Appearance

Medium-dense purplish-red with youthful luminosity – a wine that already hints at its high-altitude origins in the glass.

Nose

Cool and complex: lingonberries, redcurrants with a hint of stalk and sour cherry meet raspberry and delicate notes of tar and game. These are joined by earthy notes of undergrowth, damp leaves and a whisper of ash – youthful, slightly yeasty, yet of considerable character.

Palate

On the palate, Altitude 421 surprises with unexpected warmth and charming fullness. Freshness and grip sit alongside a pleasant, rounded gourmandise – ripe red and dark fruits, a warm core, slightly grainy, well-integrated tannins. Slender, precise, with genuine tension.

Finish

Long, saline and mouth-watering – the finish is the fitting conclusion to a wine that places elegance above weight.

Terroir & Origin

The parcel En Bignon in Bouze-lès-Beaune sits at a remarkable 421 metres altitude – an extraordinary elevation for Burgundy. The soil of red clay and calcareous marl gives the wine its mineral coolness and structure. The vines were partly planted back in the 1980s at a density of over 10,000 plants per hectare – a clear commitment to quality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pinot Noir in pure form. Boris Champy worked with 60% whole bunches, extracted gently and aged the wine twelve months in large oak – of which 15% in new wood, just enough to add depth without masking the expression of terroir. The result: a wine of refined craftsmanship.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with grilled lamb loin, game birds such as partridge or pigeon, but equally with mushroom risotto or a classic Coq au vin. The saline freshness also makes it a convincing companion to aged Comté.

Special Features

A Hautes-Côtes de Beaune of a different kind: Boris Champy demonstrates what is possible when one takes the appellation’s boundaries seriously and works with artisanal precision and respect for terroir. Altitude 421 is not an entry-level wine – it is a statement of intent.