The Hidden Treasure of Savigny les Beaune
We recently tasted another bottle of this incredible wine, while on sabbatical in North Lake Tahoe a few weeks back. Folks, I can’t impress enough upon you how delicious, flat out jam packed with everything that Burgundy and Pinot Noir are famous for and humbly priced this wine is. We decanted it for an hour (something I strongly suggest for any Burgundy from the outstanding 2015 vintage – at a minimum) and enjoyed it with freshly hand cut filets. There’s something incredibly special about Savigny-les-Beaunes, true off the beaten track Burgundies for those who understand (or who want to discover) what grand Burgundy is all about. The more famous appellations – those in closer proximity to the world famous Route National 74 (the main artery in Burgundy running North to South and connecting all the primary appellations) – consistently run close to the triple dollar range these days for the Premier Crus (the cult producers run to the triple dollars, plus).
Take, for example, the Volnay Premier Cru les Champans 2015 from Joseph Voillot, bottled just a few kilometers away from the wine I’m introducing today – a 2015 Savigny les Beaune that would easily compete with Joseph’s les Champans. Joseph Voillot’s Volnay, being a more famous appellation, closer to RN 74, and more well known over the centuries, will set you back $85+. But the scores for the two wines are within a point of each other! So, what’s this off the beaten track secret I must share? It’s none other than 4th generation Francoise Andre’s Savigny les Beaune Premier Cru Les Vergelesses. Priced at $49.99 (less than many of the Pinots we’re buying from Sonoma these days!) this is not just the best priced Savigny you’ll find, it’s the best priced Pinot Noir from either continent you’re gonna taste this year!
Wine Enthusiast: 2015 was one of Burgundy’s greatest vintages, rare to find these days. This beauty showcases the vintage very well: youthfull color, rich, powerful aromatics of plums, dates, currants, very classic; juicy attack with jammy cherries, rich but melting tannins, full body, very delicious mid palate and long, sustaining finish. Classic!
Domaine Francoise Andre Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Les Vergelesses
$49.99