FRANÇOIS DE NICOLAY
Savigny-Les-Beaune
Burgundy
The name François de Nicolay commands a great deal of respect in Burgundy. Currently managing the Chandon des Briailles estate with his sister Claude, François can put his name on some of the finest wines to be found in the Côte D’Or.
To boot, he is a pioneer of sustainability in the region, being the first to use alternative treatments such as milk to treat powdery mildew. Recently Nicolas began his own négoce project, which sources organic and biodynamic fruit from trusted and reputable growers.
The quality of François’ wines can be attributed to his painstakingly selective approach when purchasing grapes. Clusters are carefully inspected during véraison and harvest to ensure they are healthy enough to produce wine without the use of additives.
Vinification and élevage take place in his ancient cellar in Savigny-Lès-Beaune and is non-interventionist in every respect: no pumpovers, no filtration, and no sulfur additions. Demand for his wines grows with every passing vintage, but this seems to only strengthen François’ resolve to remain a true artisanal winemaker.
Mâcon-Villages
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Mâcon, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Grapes sourced from from two Climats in the Mâconnais; Igé and Clessé. Fermented in old barrels of 3-10 harvests, for 1-6 months. Then racked to old barrels for 26 months before bottling.
Tasting Note A ripe vintage produces a wine of great immediacy. A pleasing minerality alongside a rich, rounded texture. Textbook classic Burgundy.
Rully, Les Maiziéres
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Rully, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Chardonnay from 10 year old vines. Alcoholic fermentation for 1 to 6 months is 500L barrels. Maturation for 12 months in 500L used barrels. No added sulphites.
Tasting Note Reductive, salty and minerally driven with a flinty nose that is balanced by the riper notes of apple cider, white peaches and a touch of nuttiness. Vertical, nicely textured and really long on the finish.
Coteaux de Champlitte
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region Haute-Saône, Franche-Comté
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking From a cool, sloped and heavily stony plot with vines that are 30 years old. Whole bunch fermentation in concrete vats for 15 days with native yeasts. Wine then ages in old oak barrels for 18 months.
Tasting Note
Bourgogne Rouge
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region
Tasting Note
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking
Tasting Note
Pernand Vergelesses
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Pernand Vergelesses, Côte de Beaune
Tasting Note
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Grapes sourced from two climats. Les Fichots, located in the lower part of the hillside is characterised by its clayey-ferrous soils. The second climat, Les Creux de la Net, is situated more mid slope and the soils are predominately more calcareous. Vines are an average age of 30 years old. Alcoholic fermentation of the whole bunches takes place in large Tronconique vats. The wine is then matured for 16 months in used oak barrels. No sulfur added at any point.
Tasting Note Refined notes of red cherry and blackcurrant lend on to warm rose and sandalwood. The palate is long and fine grained. Lovely elevated classic Pinot.