Beaune 1er Cru AOP – Maison Charles Père & Filles – Les Epenottes – red

Description

This Pinot Noir comes from a small 0.61-hectare plot where the vines, 40 years old on average, enjoy an ideal exposure that yields grapes of great quality. Yields are deliberately kept to 40 hl/ha to ensure perfect aromatic concentration and exceptional berry quality. This Pinot Noir is produced in limited quantities, around 4,000 bottles, making it a rare and precious wine.

The winemaking follows a traditional method that respects the fruit and its terroir. After hand harvesting and meticulous sorting, the grapes spend around 15 days in vat, including 30% whole bunches, allowing gentle extraction and preserving all the freshness and finesse of the fruit. Fermentation and maceration take place in stainless-steel or concrete vats, allowing precise control of temperature and aromas.

Once fermentation is complete, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, an ageing that gives it an elegant structure and extra depth without masking the purity of the Pinot Noir. The French oak helps refine the tannins and adds subtle oaky aromas, while preserving the expression of red fruit and the spicy notes characteristic of the variety.

The wine has a deep, luminous colour that reflects its concentration and youth. The nose is expressive, dominated by aromas of ripe red fruit, notably raspberry and blackberry, accompanied by spicy notes of liquorice that add complexity and depth. On the palate, the attack is crunchy, followed by a fine, firm and well-built structure, with fine, well-integrated tannins. The texture is supple and pleasant, offering a perfect balance between fruit and power.

Served at a temperature of 14 °C, this Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with poultry dishes, particularly rabbit in mustard sauce, or any flavourful white meat. Its ability to accompany rich, flavourful dishes makes it an ideal wine for convivial and refined meals. This wine, of great finesse and fine structure, also has excellent ageing potential, so it can be enjoyed at its peak in the years to come.