Savigny-Les-Beaune “Aux Fourneaux” rouge AOC 2020

The Pinot Noir comes from the Premier Cru site Aux Fourneaux in Savigny-lès-Beaune as well as from a part of the site that is only declared as a local wine, which is why the addition "Premier Cru" has been dropped since the 2018 vintage. The commune is located about three and a half kilometres northwest of Beaune and, with 383 hectares, has one of the most extensive vineyards in this region. In the Premier Cru site Aux Fourneaux, Domaine Chandon de Briailles owns 1.68 hectares on an eastern exposure with vines that are more than 60 years old. The soil is clayey and deep. In the upper part of the plot, there is also lime in the topsoil. Spontaneous fermentation took place in wood cuve with 100 % whole cluster. Then it went by gravity into barriques and tonneaux with a small amount of new wood. This was followed by around 18 months of ageing without further agitation or racking. Filling was done directly from the barrel with low sulphur addition.

medium cherry-red

Year after year, the Aux Fourneaux vineyard at Chandon de Briailles produces wonderfully open and inviting wines that are very enjoyable early on. This is also the case in 2020, where the Pinot Noir presents itself sensual and inviting. It is reminiscent of ripe sweet cherries with dark sponge cake and a little vanilla, with cinnamon and ground chicory, of wild berries and plums with a little sweet yeast.

On the palate, the 2020 Aux Fourneaux juicy, silky and hedonistic with its ripe dark fruit, which is also accompanied here by hints of vanilla and some dark biscuit as well as warm milk chocolate. At the same time, the fruit is accompanied by a strand of cool acidity and lively minerality that balances the dark warmth of the fruit. The tannin is gentle and elegant. This wine, as I said before, is already a joy to drink now, but it still has years ahead of it.