An Australian in Burgundy: Biodynamic Savigny, Pernand & Corton from Chandon de Briailles

** Producteur des très grande qualité [one of only 25 in Côte de Beaune] Le Classement 2015

** A Fine Domaine [the only grower in Savigny-Les-Beaune] Clive Coates MW, The Wines of Burgundy

“Nadine, Claude and François de Nicolay have made remarkable strides in the past twenty-five years and Chandon de Briailles is now making exceptional Burgundy.” Remington Norman, The Great Domaines Of Burgundy



When an owner of some of the most meticulously tended old-vine parcels of the Côte, one whose wines have always been geared towards delicacy, restraint and longevity rather than upfront power, encounters a low yielding and ripe (yet beautifully balanced) vintage like 2012— something special is likely in the offing. Within the prism of Chandon de Briailles classical elegance, the 2012 reds are surely the most approachable and seductive wines we have tasted here. As Claude de Nicolay put it to Allen Meadows, “they remind me of slightly more concentrated versions of our 2010s. The individual terroirs are clearly delineated and I think that they should age extremely well.” You had us at ‘2010s’, Claude.

Let’s be clear, while the ‘12s chez Chandon have lovely, tender flesh to their bones, they remain absolutely true to the classical style for which this Domaine is renown. These are wonderfully perfumed and super pure Burgundies, with no surmaturité or overt new oak influence at all. The old caveat remains—do not buy these wines if you are looking for anything other than Burgundies of length, poise and finesse! They are the antithesis of the blockbuster, show-pony style. They will drink well from a young age, which has not always been the case here, yet they will... learn more