As neatly summarized in a review by Burgundy writer Bill Nanson, the 2005 purchase of Remoissenet ushered in a new era at this historic firm, which was established in 1877 and is housed in a 14th-century stone edifice in the heart of Beaune. In addition to bringing in Répolt, who was previously at Louis Jadot, the new ownership team also added journalist-turned-president Pierre-Antoine Rovani and winemaker Claudie Jobard, who’ve re-established the property as a quality leader primarily through investments in vineyards and farming (Remoissenet-owned vineyards are farmed biodynamically, and all contact growers are now more closely managed with an eye toward sustainability). They are, like many of their modern contemporaries, re-defining what it means to be a ‘négociant’ in Burgundy: Most people think of such producers a purchasing either grapes or wine from other growers and putting them out under their own label. But the best négociants of the modern era are much more hands-on than that, managing the process carefully at every step of the way by focusing heavily on sustainable farming and wines from estate-owned vineyards.

But the other distinguishing feature of Remoissenet is its museum-quality collection of back-vintage bottlings, which, as Nanson notes, numbered around a million bottles dating back to the 1950s. We’ve seen them firsthand while strolling through the catacombs with Répolt—stacks of dusty “shiner” bottles, one with a miniature chalkboard hanging from its neck with the vintage and vineyard inscribed. For a wine geek, it’s more exciting than an amusement park ride—especially when you get to pull the cork on some of them and literally taste history.

[**NOTE: Each of these bottles is meticulously reconditioned by Rovani and team at Remoissenet before shipping. As Rovani himself explained to us: “At Remoissenet, we go to a great deal of trouble to open our old wines, decant them off their sediment, top them off with the very same wine (losing bottles in the process), and then recorking/relabeling them so we can ultimately deliver a pristine bottle to our customers.”]

The Premier Cru “En Chevret” hugs Volnay’s southern border with Meursault, and is somehow a lesser-known site despite being surrounded by “Santenots” and the two “Cailleret” Premier Crus. It has a full eastern exposure right in the heart of the Premier Cru slope, and while specific production details on this 1966 are lost to history, the wine—much like the ’67s we offered previously—showed incredible vibrancy and relative youthfulness given its advanced age. In the glass, it displays a medium garnet core moving to brick orange at the rim, and upon breathing a little air it begins to explode with complex fruit and earth sensations, including dried black cherry, black plum, dried orange peel, leather, dried rose petals, damp forest, black truffle, cured meat, crushed stones, and warm spices. It is medium-bodied and seductively silky—its tannins now sanded to a smooth finish—but still lifted and surprisingly fresh. It won’t fall apart on you (a testament to its never-been-moved provenance), though I’d suggest you serve it from the bottle rather than decant it: Stand the bottle upright in a cool place the day before opening and pull the cork about 30 minutes before service at 60 degrees in Burgundy stems. The wine should quickly open up in the glass so don’t rush it; pour small amounts (2-3 ounces) and slowly enjoy the bottle over a few hours. If you pour gently, you'll avoid any trace sediment that may remain (though it will be minimal). Obviously, a special-occasion meal is in order whenever you choose to open it: Check out the earthy flavors in the attached chicken recipe; I think it’ll make a very soulful and authentic combination. Enjoy!