J.M Fourrier Côte de Nuits Village Le Preau 2022

Domaine Fourrier is one of the most admired addresses in Burgundy, and Jean-Marie Fourrier builds every wine on old vines, insisting that a plant cannot give its best until its root system is fully developed; young fruit that has not reached that maturity is sold off rather than bottled. This Côte de Nuits-Village comes from vines over thirty years old, farmed organically and biodynamically, on the limestone and marl slopes at the northern end of the Côte de Nuits. The free-draining limestone bedrock forces those deep roots to work for water and minerals, concentrating the fruit and lending a savoury, stony character, while the cool continental climate and slow ripening preserve the acidity that gives the wine its lift. A long twenty months in French oak softens the tannin gently through measured oxygen exchange and frames the fruit with subtle spice rather than overt wood. The wine is a medium ruby with a nose of fresh cherry, red berries and clove over earth and a touch of thyme. The palate is concentrated yet restrained, with fine tannin, leather and minerality on a long, classic finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees in a Burgundy glass. It suits roast beef, game and mushroom dishes.