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Chandon de Briailles, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru, “Les Lavières”

Other, France 2015 (750mL)
$50.00
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Chandon de Briailles, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru, “Les Lavières”

What do the Burgundian villages Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-lès Beaune, Saint-Romain, and Saint-Aubin have in common? For one thing, all are positioned a little to the west of Burgundy’s “main drag” escarpment that runs the length of the Côte d’Or (“golden slope”). For another, these are villages where the “$50 wines that taste like $100 wines” are most likely to be found.
We’ve been having especially good luck lately in Savigny-lès-Beaune, home of the impeccable Domaine Chandon de Briailles and this Premier Cru from the celebrated 2015 vintage. Sourced from 50-year-old vines in “Les Lavières,” one of Savigny’s elite vineyards situated within striking distance of the Grand Cru Corton, this wine has all the pedigree one could ask for—just not the name recognition (and accompanying price tag). This is classically structured red Burgundy built for long aging in your cellar—as opposed to the raft of ultra-ripe 2015s I’ve tasted that are better suited for immediate consumption—so all you traditionalists out there, take note! We can offer up to six bottles of “Les Lavières” today, and I’d urge you to take your limit: This is “$50 that tastes like $100” wine at its best!
Located in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Domaine Chandon de Briailles has been in the same family’s hands since 1834 (with familial ties that were originally connected to the Chandons of Champagne’s Moët). Today, the domaine is run by seventh-generation brother and sister François and Claude de Nicolay. Claude, who has been working here since 1991, studied viticulture in Beaune and built her very own analytical lab after obtaining a degree in technical enology. François joined her in 2001 after originally entering the wine trade as a boutique distributor. The pair have since turned a historic domaine into one of Burgundy’s most prestigious. They also tirelessly worked to become Certified Biodynamic and are part of the 28-member association “Les Domaines Familiaux de Tradition,” which contains every Burgundy powerhouse name you could imagine.

Les Lavières (“lave” = flat limestone slabs) is one of the best sites in all of Savigny-lès-Beaune. This extensive Premier Cru runs along a latitudinal valley that curves northward and meets the heart of Corton less than a mile away. In this screenshot from Google Maps you can see the vineyard sloping upward to a cropped hilltop and Corton can be spotted in the backdrop on the right side of the frame. Chandon de Briailles’ vines were purchased soon after the Second World War and Claude’s father replanted this six-acre plot in 1954. Now pushing past 60 years of age, these vines are ideal for producing high quality Pinot Noir. As they follow a strict biodynamic regimen, a single horse is used for plowing and all grapes are carefully sorted and picked by hand. In the winery, the grapes are partially destemmed and indigenous yeasts trigger fermentation. Aging for a duration of 14-18 months in their 13th century cellars takes place only in oak—mostly once, twice, and thrice-used barrels. It is bottled without fining or filtration. 

In the glass Chandon de Briailles’ 2015 “Les Lavières” shines a deep and dense ruby with brighter hues as you move out to the rim. It’s full of elegant charm and the nose exudes ripe fruits and earthy aromas of black cherry, wild plums, wild strawberries, anise, pomegranate, rose stem, purple flowers, gunflint, turned earth, forest floor, baking spices, and damp leather. The palate possesses a great firmness with a delicate core of black/red fruits enveloped in a savory concoction of flowers and herbs. A strong mineral presence emerges on the long finish and the overall structure here clearly highlights its aging potential. If consuming today, show a minimum 90 minute decant, otherwise stow them away until 2020 and drink until 2035 and beyond—these wines are built for the cellar! With a traditional producer, you must go with a dish of the same nature: beef bourguignon is always promising, but if you’re seeking something different try the attached jambon persille recipe—just bring an empty stomach. Bon appétit! 
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Country
France
Region
Other
Sub-Region
FranceSavigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru “Les Lavières”
Soil
Limestone & Clay
Farming
Biodynamic
Blend
Pinot Noir 100%
Alcohol
14.0
OAK
Used and New French
TEMP.
60-65
Glassware
Large Burgundy Stem
Drinking
Now-2035
Decanting
90 Minutes
Pairing
Jambon Persille

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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