Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru „Les Lavières“ rouge 2019

Wine Description for Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru „Les Lavières“ rouge 2019 by Chandon de Briailles

Colour & Appearance

Medium cherry red with youthful luminosity – a classic Pinot Noir dress that places elegance before power.

Nose

Remarkably precise and inviting: plums and violets dominate, accompanied by peonies and a hint of lavender. The violet floral notes are almost reminiscent of a young Brouilly – juicy, fresh, with a touch of yeast and iron. This aromatic consistency across different vintages is the hallmark of this vineyard site.

Palate

Juicy and silky on the attack, the 2019 combines the maturity of the 2017 with the freshness of the 2018. Fruit sweetness meets herbal notes and liquorice spice. The tannins are finely honed, the whole-bunch fermentation lends grip and structure without being obtrusive. The acidity is vibrant and mineral – a wine with backbone and finesse in equal measure.

Finish

Silky and spicy on the close with notes of liquorice, leaf, undergrowth and a hint of dark pepper. Medium length, with lovely aromatic persistence.

Terroir & Origin

The Premier Cru vineyard site Les Lavières – named after the flat limestone fragments (laves) that once served as roof tiles – lies in Savigny-lès-Beaune towards Pernand-Vergelesses. Chandon de Briailles manages 2.61 hectares in the heart of this 17.66-hectare site. The 50-year-old vines are rooted on a south-south-easterly aspect on complex soil comprising sandstone, marl and iron-rich oolite in the upper section and crumbly limestone in the lower section.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Pinot Noir, spontaneously fermented in wooden vats with complete whole-bunch fermentation. Maturation over 14 months in barriques and tonneaux with minimal new oak, without racking or transfer. Bottling with minimal sulphur, often directly from the barrel – a purist approach that lets the terroir speak.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Stir-fried beef strips with sesame and soy sauce, Poule au Pot or potato and porcini gratin – the wine harmonises with spiced meat dishes as well as earthy mushroom aromas.

Special Characteristics

A textbook example of the aromatic consistency of a great vineyard site across different vintages. The consistently natural vinification underscores the terroir typicity of this underrated Savigny site.