Boris Champy Beaune 1er Cru Aux Coucherias 2018 2022

Boris Champy farms in Burgundy's Côte-d'Or, drawing on a background that includes a decade in Napa Valley before he returned to make wine in this classic region. This is a Beaune Premier Cru from the Aux Coucherias climat, made entirely from Pinot Noir, the grape of red Burgundy. The Côte-d'Or is built on limestone and marl, soils that suit Pinot Noir and give its wines lift, minerality and elegance rather than weight. A cool continental climate and a defined single vineyard explain the wine's structure and detail, and the fruit is farmed biodynamically. Bottled as a biodynamic, natural and vegan wine, it spends 12 months in French oak barrels, where gentle oxygen exchange softens Pinot Noir's naturally fine tannin and adds a subtle spice and toast that frame the fruit without covering it. Expect a translucent ruby colour and a nose of red cherry and wild strawberry over forest floor, dried herbs and a floral note. The palate is medium-bodied and savoury, with fresh acidity, silky tannin and a long, earthy finish true to its limestone origin. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees in a wide glass. It is made for duck, game and mushroom dishes.