2022, Domaine Chandon de Briailles, SAVIGNY-LÈS-BEAUNE, 1er Cru, 'Les Lavières'

The 2022 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru was bottled the week prior to my visit. This comes from more limestone soils with a light clay topsoil. The lively bouquet has plenty of energy, with crushed stone infusing the red berry fruit, touches of briar and pottery wheel. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip. Crunchy black fruit laced with graphite leads to quite a precise, persistent, classically-styled Savigny finish. Not suave or sophisticated, yet surfeit with character. 92 Neal Martin, Vinous (2023).

This south-facing, early ripening site has delivered a rather rich 2022 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières. It offers up aromas of cherries, raspberries, violets and liquorice followed by a broad, fleshy, medium to full-bodied palate. 90-92 William Kelley, Wine Advocate (2024).

In bottle. A fine bright mid purple. The nose is exquisitely floral, and seems much more refreshing than the Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Fourneaux. There is a lot of wine here, some slightly astringent tannins which will assist the wine in its ageing. A fine stylish finish. *** 89 Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (2023).

There is just enough reduction to push the fruit to the background. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the finer but not denser medium weight flavours that are even more mineral-driven, all wrapped in a balanced, refined and sneaky long finale. Lovely. 91 Allen Meadows, Burghound (2024).

Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040