Alcohol: 13%
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Localization: Burgundy, France
Tasting Notes: The Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion Bourgogne La Croix Blanche Vieilles Vignes begins with a gorgeous nose of bright red cherries, fresh red currants, dried wild mushrooms, white pepper, and light florals. The palate has concentrated, penetrating red fruits combined with a slightly savory earthy complexity, made in a focused, perfectly balanced, linear style. My first thought when I tasted it was what an incredible find this is, and I can't remember tasting a red burgundy this great at this low price
Notes: This wine is produced thanks to the selection of grapes from several plots between Ladoix
and Chorey-Lès-Beaune, in Village appellation, for an overall area of 1,33 acres.
After a manual harvest, grapes are destemmed and ferment in a cement tank during about
2 weeks. The grapes are treaded manually every day. When the fermentation is over, we
do the pressing in a pneumatic press, afterwards the wine will age in our cellar in oak
barrels (20% new oak barrels, 80% of oaks from 2 to 4 years old) during 10 - 15 months.
Food Pairing: It will spice up your grilled meats or go well with ham and cheese platter for an aperitif.
The Domain: A true family affair, Armelle, Bernard and their daughters, Nelly, Melissa and Alice and her husband Louis, manage 7.5 hectares of vines producing 35,000 bottles of 14 wines across 8 appellations, including some of the most coveted ground in the Côte de Nuits. Five generations of this Rion family have been making wine since the late 19th century.
The Rions farm their mostly old-vine plots lutte-raisonnée (mostly natural and non-interventionist but within reason based on what nature dictates). Everything is done by hand, they destem completely, ferment for 2-weeks in concrete tanks, and age in a mix of old and new oak barrels.
Their wines are remarkably elegant and finessed while remaining true to the terroir of the different vineyards. While they do not display overt power, they do not want for structure and fortitude and are certainly age-worthy. They are heavenly with the truffles they forage with their 3 dogs.
